Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 4: Maintaining that Gojri- the language of Gujjar tribe residing in 12 States of India- deserves its inclusion in the eighth schedule of Indian Constitution -the speakers of a programme organized here today by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation – demanded that State Government should press hard for national recognition of their mother tongue.
They said that Gojri, the largest spoken ‘tribal languages’ of Northern-Western States in India with more than two million native speakers in Jammu and Kashmir State, fulfills all the requisites and qualify for the grant of recognized Indian language status.
Dr Javaid Rahi, well-known Gujjar researcher, who presided over the function, stated that Gojri was in queue since last 2 decades and they were eagerly waiting its inclusion.
Being oldest and significant languages of India, Gojri deserves recognition at national level long back, he said and added that Gujjars-the main speakers of Gojri- live mainly in 12 States of North-Western India, listed as ST in J&K and Himachal Pardesh and OBC in 10 other State are fighting jointly and vigorously for recognition of Gojri in Constitution as it is a common feature among Gujjar community.
The speakers said that the influence of Gojri – as a cultural language in Indian subcontinent, is increasing day by day mainly due to growing ethnic consciousness among Gujjars, Bakerwals and other communities who speak this language since centuries. The meeting was informed by the members of Tribal Foundation that for inclusion of Gojri in India Constitution, Governor of J&K N N Vohra, two Chief Ministers of the State from time and again, have written separate recommendation letters to Union Home Ministry and favored its inclusion in the list of recognized Indian Languages.
On the occasion, a committee of senior writers, poets and intellectual was also framed to work jointly in order to meet different dignitaries to address the issues with regard to recognition and development of Gojri language and Culture.
Those who spoke included Abdul Kareem Dildar, Ghulam Rubani, Aaijaz Ahsen, Rukam Din Bhomla, Aslam Bhalot, Khadam Khaki and others.
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