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| Parties asked to press for including Gojri in schedule-VIII | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Jan 6
Ahead of the Budget Session of the State Legislature scheduled to commence on Monday, the Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir have urged upon Major political parties of State to bring a bill during Assembly session to recommend the inclusion of "Gojri Language" in the Eighth Scheduled of Constitution of India by treating the tribe as "Linguistic Minority" in the State.
In a memorandum to political parties of state, Gujjars have said that Tribal Muslim Gujjar community forms 20 to 25% of overall population and as such deserve constitutional safeguards to their language "Gojri" and ethnicity.
The memorandum signed by all the prominent writers, poets and intellectuals of the language was sent to all the major political parties working in the State asking them to recommend the case of Tribal Language "Gojri" to Center for inclusion in the list of official languages of India.
Giving the details of the memorandum, National Secretary of the Foundation Dr. Javaid Rahi said here that State Government has already recognized Gojri by including it in the 6th Schedule of the constitution, which makes it a strong case for inclusion in the eighth, scheduled of Indian constitution.
It has been recognized as a richest "Tribal language" of India by the National Academy of Letters- "Sahitya Academy" having 100 years rich literary tradition at its back, Dr. Rahi added.
Rahi further said that Gojri being one of the oldest and significant languages of the South Asian sub-continent, it is spoken by Gujjar Tribe-in 11 States of India has locus Standi for its inclusion in the official languages list as there is an adequate provision and facilities in Indian Constitution for ethno-linguistic minorities.
The memorandum further sought the help of Kashmiri, Dogri and linguistic groups, National political parties, social organizations for the cause of tribal population of the state.
"It is the aspiration of millions of people who want that due credit should be given to this ancient language which is serving our motherland for centuries together" said Dr. Javaid Rahi.
He further added according to current analysis Gojri language is the first language of 20 million of people in South Asia including India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, a good chunk of them live in Jammu And Kashmir State. It is easily understood and spoken by the people belonging to other linguistic groups as well but has not been given due recognition for unspecified reasons.
The memorandum further said that several pleas by groups and individuals espousing the cause have failed to convince the political leadership for inclusion of Gojri in the eighth schedule of the constitution of India preventing recognition to the language it deserved since very long.
After Kashmiri and Dogri both included in the 8th Schedule, Gojri is third largest spoken language in Jammu and Kashmir State and deserves to be enumerated in schedule. |
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