Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 2: Pinning hopes on Modi Government, J&K Gujjars today demanded positive decision on inclusion of Gojri in the 8th Schedule of Indian Constitution.
The community members, in a programme organized by the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation held here today pleaded that Gojri, a tribal language spoken by nearly two million Gujjars, deserves more attention from the Union Government and urged for national recognition to their mother tongue.
The programme was presided over by noted tribal researcher Dr Javaid Rahi while a number of writers, artists and intellectuals of Gojri language were among the participants.
Dr Javaid Rahi, in his address stated that Gojri is the largest spoken ‘tribal languages’ of northern-western States of India which includes Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Delhi, UP, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat with more than three millions native speakers in Jammu and Kashmir. He said the Gojri fulfils all the requisites criteria and qualify for the grant of recognized Indian language status long back.
He said community is pinning hope on Modi 2.0 Government for an optimistic decision on the issue pending in Union Home Ministry since 1991.
The community is “fighting vigorously” for its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, Rahi said.
The others speakers on the occasion 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 speaks this language since centuries.
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.
The speakers also called for introducing Gojri language in schools and its recognition by the Sahitya Akademi in New Delhi.
Those who spoke included Abdul Kareem, Ishtiaq Misbah, Juniad Dildar, Arif Mohammad, Aslam Bhalot, Khadam Khaki and others.
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