KLU stages protest, demands promotion, preservation of Kashmiri language

Srinagar, Dec27: Kashmiri Language Union (KLU) on Thursday staged a protest demonstration demanding promotion and preservation of Kashmiri language here at Press Enclave.

Protestors were holding banners and placards which read, “Kashrin henz pehchan, kashir zaban kashir zaban” and “save Mother tongue of Kashmir”.

They were seeking, governor’s intervention in making Kashmiri language as compulsory subject till higher secondary level in all educational institutions.

Department of School Education Kashmir on July 19, 2017 had issued an order which states that mother tongue of Jammu and Kashmir (Kashmiri,

Dogri and Bhudhi) should be made compulsory till higher secondary level throughout the state.

The protesters were appealing the administration including the Director to implement the order.“It is quite unfortunate that the authorities are not abiding by their own order. Most of the schools have not implemented the order. Unless and until we won’t teach the language in the schools, we would not be able to promote and preserve our mother tongue,” said president, Sofi Hilal.

Hilal said that successive regimes have failed to pay attention towards the welfare of Kashmiri language.”The language has been slowly disappearing from our society. Authorities should make efforts to restore it,” he said.

“Around 2000 youth with degrees in Kashmiri language are jobless. We studied among all odds. We were hopeful that we will get the job, but despite possessing high qualifications, we are moving from pillar to post in search of a job,” said Arshid Ahmad, president south Kashmir.

“The authorities should without any delay make concrete efforts for the preservation and promotion of Kashmiri language,” Ahmad added.