The Kashmiri language, known as 'Koshur' to its speakers, is an integral part of the cultural and historical fabric of the Kashmir Valley. With a rich heritage influenced by Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic, Kashmiri has been the medium of expression for poets, scholars, and common folk alike. However, despite its significance, the language faces numerous challenges that threaten its survival and prominence.
Decline in Usage and Intergenerational Transmission
One of the most pressing concerns is the decline in the number of Kashmiri speakers, particularly among the younger generation. Urbanization and migration have led many families to adopt languages like Urdu and English, sidelining Kashmiri in daily conversations. This shift results in a weakened intergenerational transmission of the language, with children often unable to converse fluently in their mother tongue. The erosion of authentic family conversations and cultural rituals is a direct consequence of this linguistic shift.
Policy Shortcomings
Despite the linguistic challenges, the government's response has been inadequate. While Kashmiri was recognized as an official language in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in 2020, this recognition has not been accompanied by substantial measures to promote its use in education, media, and public life. The lack of robust policies and funding for language preservation programs has led to a situation where Kashmiri is increasingly marginalized in favor of more dominant languages.
Impact of Globalization and Media
Globalization has further exacerbated the situation. The dominance of global languages, especially English, in media, education, and technology, has led to a preference for these languages over Kashmiri. This trend is evident in the media landscape, where Kashmiri-language content is limited, and the younger generation consumes content primarily in English and Hindi. The lack of representation of Kashmiri in mainstream media contributes to its decline, as language plays a crucial role in shaping cultural identity and community cohesion.
Cultural Erosion and Identity Crisis
The decline of Kashmiri is not just a linguistic issue but also a cultural one. Language is a repository of culture, history, and identity. As Kashmiri fades from daily use, there is a tangible loss of cultural heritage, with traditional stories, songs, and customs being forgotten or altered. This erosion leads to a weakened sense of identity among the Kashmiri people, particularly the youth, who may feel disconnected from their roots.
The Need for Comprehensive Preservation Efforts
To address these challenges, a multifaceted approach is necessary. The government must take proactive steps to integrate Kashmiri into the education system, ensuring that children learn and use their mother tongue from an early age. Media outlets should be encouraged to produce content in Kashmiri, providing platforms for its use and promoting its relevance in contemporary society. Community initiatives, such as cultural festivals and language workshops, can foster a sense of pride and belonging among speakers. Additionally, leveraging technology to create digital content in Kashmiri can engage the younger generation and make the language more accessible.
International Mother Language Day is celebrated every year on February 21st all over the world. The purpose of this day is to remind people to adopt and practice mother tongues. Once a year, Mother Language Day is celebrated. On this day, ceremonies and seminars are organized all over the world. In these ceremonies and seminars, speakers highlight the importance and usefulness of mother tongue by giving hour-long speeches on mother tongue. In our country, similar gatherings are organized every year on February 21st and steps are taken to convey the importance and usefulness of the mother tongue to the coming generations. However, if we look at it, in practice, these steps are limited to files and we wait for February 21st next year and then similar ceremonies and seminars are being organized. However, if we look closely, this proves to be a futile exercise. Because if we talk about our mother tongue Kashmiri, seminars and ceremonies are being organized here on this day too. However, in our homes and schools, today, children are made to speak Hindi, Urdu or English and are forced to learn these languages by saying that you do not have to stay at home but have to go out. However, when we think about it now, while teaching these languages, they are also being destroyed because now children are being taught words like "clean the toilet" and "dog eye". This has destroyed the basic knowledge of these languages. The image is affected
It is an established fact that a nation that is negligent in adopting and implementing its language and does not attract its new generation towards it loses its identity. Here, more or less newspapers are published in the Kashmiri language, but the official claims are clearly false because they are being completely ignored compared to the newspapers published in other languages. Sensitive people of the society, while talking about the protection and promotion of the mother tongues, said that the history of the Kashmiri language is very ancient and it has its own unique identity, but at the ground level, we cannot do justice to it and it would not be out of place to say that we are leaving no stone unturned in uprooting it. They say that claims are made for the promotion of the Kashmiri language, but now it has been limited to poetry and fiction, while the new generation seems to be far away from this language. They said that there is no harm in promoting it in terms of poetry or prose. No, rather, it helps keep the language alive, but unless this language is colloquial, its purpose is lost. Now Kashmiri language is taught in many classes in schools and it is also taught as a syllabus in universities or colleges, but its overall condition is not satisfactory in any way. Regarding the neglect of newspapers published in Kashmiri language, writers, scholars, journalists and editors said that on the one hand the government is making loud claims of promoting mother tongues, but on the other hand, similar conspiracies are being hatched to weaken it at the ground level. They said that our assembly and parliamentary members took oath in Kashmiri in the House of Parliament or the Assembly to maintain their identity. So why is there no effort being made to promote this language at the ground level? s. In the context of this overall situation of languages, including the Kashmiri language, the attention of writers, poets, teachers, and responsible people of the society is being drawn to the fact that in order to make the Kashmiri language stable and correct in the new generation, they should be inclined to speak the mother tongue in the homes so that our individual identity is not lost and everyone in the family, especially the elderly, can easily express their love and affection for the children.
Kashmiri, being one of the prominent languages of the region, often faces challenges in being adequately supported by the government in terms of funding, advertising, and recognition compared to languages like Hindi or English. This has led to discussions about the marginalization of regional media outlets and languages, which could impact the cultural identity and information dissemination in the region.
There have been calls from civil society groups, journalists, and cultural organizations to address these imbalances and ensure fair treatment of Kashmiri language media

Conclusion

The preservation of the Kashmiri language is not merely an academic concern but a vital issue for the cultural survival of the Kashmiri people. It requires concerted efforts from the government, civil society, and the community at large to ensure that Kashmiri continues to thrive as a living language, rich in history and culture. Without such efforts, the language risks fading into obscurity, taking with it the unique identity and heritage of the Kashmir Valley.