EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, July 17: With demands of making Hindi as one of the official languages in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are getting louder with each passing day, there are chances high that the administration too will take a holistic view on the issue.
The petition submitted in the high court recently has submitted that there are about 10 districts in the Jammu region wherein people cannot read or write Urdu and therefore Hindi should be declared as an official language.
Though the court has asked the government to respond by October 7, this year, the question remains whether the government shall be prepared enough to address the demands of millions of Jammuites at last?
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 civil society groups have been asking the government over the reasons behind not introducing Hindi language in the Union Territory of J&K for the ease and welfare of the huge chunk of the population who speak, read, and understand the Hindi language.
The official documents in possession of the Early Times reveal that in the state of Jammu and Kashmir which is a 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 especially when the communication is inter-district. 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 the Hindi language as one of the official languages in the state besides Urdu and English is tantamount to rejecting a very basic right of state’s large chunk of the population that speaks, writes and understands Hindi.
Though there have been several instances when the measures for the induction of Hindi language were taken, however, the dilatory approach of the helmsmen here has acted as a major spoilsport in the entire process.
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. |
