Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 17: Demanding immediate steps to establish “Gojri Department” in University of Jammu (JU), the Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir today appealed higher authorities to intervene and implement the decision of its Council meeting held in 2008, in which a full-fledged Gojri Research Centre was approved for the development of Gojri language.
The community demanded a similar Department of Gojri in BGSB University, Rajouri too. Raising the issue with the Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, who is also Pro- Chancellor of Jammu University and Chancellor of BGSB University, the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation sent two letters to Chief Minister in this regard.
In this connection -the foundation organized a meeting of Gojri language held here under the chairmanship of Dr Javaid Rahi, who said Gojri being a largest spoken tribal language of the State deserves fair deals from Universities located in J&K State. He impressed upon the Gujjar community to join hand for recognition of their mother tongue. He impressed upon JU and BGSBU authorities to establish full- fledged Gojri Departments to teach and document the treasure of Gojri.
He said that the “Gojri” speakers who constitute 20 to 25 % of the population of State are fighting since 1980 for establishment of “Gojri Department”, on the pattern of ‘Dogri’ and ‘Kashmiri’ Departments, in University of Jammu and Kashmir and after a long struggle the highest body of University in 2008 approved a Research Centre for Gojri to be established in Jammu but after the lapse of two and half year nothing concrete has emerged on the ground level.
Dr Rahi urged the community leaders in politics to press the University authorities including State Governor, Chief Minister and Vice Chancellor over the issue as the establishment of Gojri Department in JU and BGSBU Rajouri will cater to the specific educational needs of the tribal and marginalized population of Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and other 10 states of northwestern states of Himalaya.
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