Sumit Gupta
Though Mother language is soul of rich art’ culture, valour and heritage of a society, surprisingly Dogra younger generation have remained unaware of the substantial contribution and achievements of Dogri scholars and Dogra warriorsabout mother language and security landscape. Perhaps it has been due to lack of consideration for the education of Dogri language which was supposed to pave the way for survival of culture. The protagonist of Dogri language have gone into Dogra History. The generation of parents and students who should have focused on learning of Dogri language to preserve traditions, historical past and its legacy has been remarkably diminishing. The revival of the language is a cause for concern as the urge for resurrection is withheld.
In the competitive environment the performance of individuals or organizations remained focused on unproductive activities like releasing of books and plays undermining the real issue of diminishing involvement of parents and teachers in early education of children. The focus on cultural preservation, Heritage conservation remained unaddressed and the language lapsed into state of non-recognition. The work of poets, writers remain unrecognized because there were unavailable buyers for their texts due to lack of knowledge of language.
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 National Curriculum Framework (NCF)2022 and National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023 clearly define the role of administrations, educationists and institutions in counselling of students in schools. The learning ecosystem of existing generations in schools focus on counselling which address to the academic, local social, emotional and psychological needs as well as career development. It underscores the importance of integrating mother language into the broader academic curriculum to ensure that students develop essential career related skills and competencies concurrent with interpersonal skills, sharing and caring, gratitude and preservation of traditions. The children who are backbone of society learn to deal with opportunities and challenges gracefully. As knowledge of foreign language may be important for knowledge of science, technology and / or realization of career, the mother language is important for understanding society and culture. The students learn from their surrounding the problems of their society or problems of their family and richness of their culture. Clubs in schools and colleges constitute a platform to ensure a ripple effect of Dogri education.The role of education sector towards their social responsibility in providing knowledge of mother language has been dismissal. Dogra are paying the price of transmission from the traditional system to modern education system depriving the younger generation knowledge and traditions of Duggar land.
Despite cultural differences, residents of Duggar land have lived together as society. However political, administrative dispensations have come up with academic paradigm to create differences. There have been prejudices and confusions amongst the new generations about their identity and roots. They proudly embrace western culture. The dispassionate detachment of Dogra youth with their own language culture and heritage is worrisome. The educational institution which should have played a pivotal role in shaping the attitudes, values and behavior of the students towards Dogra identity, knowledge of geographical dynamics, historical context and cultural heritage have failed to shoulder responsibility.
While there are allegations of business interest of private sector, and apathy of the public sector in implementation and neglect of national educational policy 2020, which clearly defines that the medium of education in primary classes will be as per existing three language formula including mother language Dogri in Jammu province, Mother language is intentionally being ignored in the syllabus of education under the pretext that schools are neither aware of NEP 2020 nor the instructions of NCF 2023 and the schools in private sector are determining the value of education by sales gimmiks not the credibility of social responsibility of sustaining mother language. Non-existence of uniform curriculum of education in schools has led to lack of implementation facilities.Interpretation of actions from a western perspectiveby private sector is developing skeptical understanding of Dogra traditions.
Media is powerful weapon for creating awareness about mother language. Social media platforms, Local televisions channels and radio can disseminate information about incorporation in school curriculum national educational policy and engage with teachers and students to participate in talks raising Dogra curiosity. They can organize campaign of “mother language our pride” which is bound to see a great degree of public participation.
Civil society originations, community leaders can pay a vital role in mobilizing political and administrative will to introduce education of mother language at primary level in schools to salvage the situation.
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