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| Don’t misunderstand languages | | |
The eleventh legislative assembly which took affirmation of office on Tuesday bring along hopes and promises. The assembly has 29 members who reached the August House first time ever. Also almost half of the total members of the previous House have been replaced by the peoples’ mandate. There is also another important and most significant point that this House is taking shape after months of turmoil pitting communities and regions against each. Election of members through a free, fair and credible elections bring across the board faith of the public. In first meeting of the House, when members gathered for their oath, there were scenes of uproar and a brief commotion. It will be an exaggeration to say or feel that a majority the members in legislative assembly objected to some of their colleagues when they took oath in Dogri, Kashmiri or Shina. It will also be unreasonable to believe that members of two particular political parties were opposed to a BJP member when he sought swear in the name of Mata Vaishno Devi. It is true that both these incidents happened but seeing this as an outright opposition to somebody’s linguistic identity or religious faith will a complete misinterpretation and misunderstanding. That members sought to take oath in their mother tongue was something laudable but the brief uproar that followed can be attributed to a fault from the Assembly Secretariat and not the opposition or intolerance of members from other linguistic groups. Among many linguistic groups, there are eight major languages spoken in Jammu and Kashmir which have been recognized in sixth schedule of the constitution of the state. Among these, three are also recognized in eighth schedule of the constitution of India. While Dogri and Kashmiri are a part of the eighth schedule of the Constitution of India, Shina (spoken in Gurez) is entered in the sixth schedule of constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. Therefore, there is nothing wrong in the members taking oath in their own languages. It was a fault on the part of the Assembly Secretariat which had not sought preference of the members and not provided them with a format in their preferred languages. When members made noises on their colleagues taking oath in Dogri, Kashmiri or Shina they were just reacting to an exception to the order and nothing else. There was absolutely no objection from any member to any language. When majority was taking oath in either Uru or English, some people taking oath in other languages were certainly bound to catch attention of the majority. It is indeed worth appreciation that some members took oath in their mother tongue which, of course, were constitutionally recognized languages. Speaking in the mother tongue at the highest forum or while entering to the highest office inspire the entire linguistic group to remain sticking to the roots. When the tenth assembly was sworn in, a member from National Conference, Javed Rana, took oath in Gojari. That was a moment of pride for his tribe of Gujjars. Members of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly can also take some inspiration from some Parliamentarians, particularly from South Indian states or Maharashtra, who despite knowing many commonly understandable languages speak in the Parliament in their own regional languages. The Parliament has facilitated translation technology for making all members to understand the languages they don’t know, instead of discouraging the members to speak in their mother tongue. As far as the oath in the name of Mata Vaishno Devi is concerned, there is no need of inciting religious passions. There are hundreds of Gods and Godesses and other symbols of religious faith but the constitution has provided for a oath in the name of God –Allah or Parmatama –whatever name you take it gets you to the same meaning.
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