Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 26: At a time when the state government is trumpeting the establishment of the State Urdu Council for the Urdu Language in the state, there are questions being raised over what the dispensation has so far done to safeguard Hindi in Jammu and Kashmir.
The irony is that the government so far hasn't even tried to find how many people speak Hindi in the state- reflecting the probable bias against the national language.
Ironically, the records reveal that no linguistic survey has been conducted by the Census department in the state till date or by the Economics & Statistics/Planning Development & Monitoring department.
As the civil society groups have been questioning the government over the reasons behind not introducing Hindi language in the state for the ease and welfare of the huge chunk of population who speak, read and understand Hindi language.
The official documents in possession of the Early Times reveal that in the state of Jammu and Kashmir which is multi-lingual state having mix population speaking Hindi, Urdu, Gojri, Pahari, Balti, Shinam Dardi, Ladakhi, Dogri, Punjabi etc, one language cannot bridge the gap communication in official correspondence .The state authorities while hinting at rejecting any such plea that would stress over the introduction of Hindi language in offices have stated that Section 145 of the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir deals with the official language of the state. The Section reads:- "The official language of the state shall be Urdu but the English shall, unless the legislature by Law otherwise provides, continue to be used for all official purposes of the state for which it was to be used immediately before the commencement of the constitution."
The cold response of the government over introducing Hindi language as one of the official languages in the state besides Urdu and English tantamount to rejecting a very basic right of state's large chunk of the population that speaks, writes and understands Hindi.
Furthermore, what is more ironic is that the state dispensation has no record of the Hindi speaking population in the state, reflecting how this language is accorded a step motherly treatment.
Meanwhile, for the face saving exercise, the government claims to have been taking several steps in promotion of the hindi language including publication of some periodicals. |
