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In Delhi, an Institute to Conserve and Develop Kashmiri Language, Literature, and Culture will be Established

Delhi and J&K Governments collaborate on an institute to preserve Kashmiri language, literature, and culture.
on Nov 07, 2023

The Delhi Government is planning to build an institute with the cooperation of the J&K Government.
The Delhi government is thinking about building an institute dedicated to preserving and promoting Kashmiri language, literature, and culture.

The J&K administration has supported this project.
Vinai Kumar Saxena, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, made the statement after meeting with representatives from several organisations, including the Jammu and Kashmir Welfare Society (JKWS), Kashmiri Samaj Delhi (KSD), Samporan Kashmir, and other members.
Sunil Shakdher, a J&K resident who launched the request with the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, led these associations.

Shakdher briefed Greater Kashmir from New Delhi about the meeting with LG Saxena.
He stated that the representatives were invited to the Union Territory Foundation Day event by the LG of Delhi.
"During this interaction, I raised the issue of the Kashmiri community living in Delhi NCR and the significant number of people residing in the capital who hail from J&K," he told reporters.

One of the main issues raised by the LG was the lack of Kashmiri language schools in Delhi, as well as the lack of institutional support for a language that they fear is gradually falling into oblivion.

Shakdher underlined the community's desire to return to Kashmir and the importance of efforts that would aid this return, allowing them to live among Kashmir's indigenous.

"I told him that we all want to return to Kashmir, and that if we do, steps must be taken in that direction." After all, the community that has migrated here must coexist with the community that lives in Kashmir," Shakdher explained.

During their meeting with LG Saxena, the delegation also focused on two essential issues: constitutional democracy and political democracy.

"In the context of constitutional democracy, I emphasised the need for a guardian to protect the Kashmiri community's cultural and linguistic heritage."

"We also expressed our concern about the lack of elections in Kashmir in terms of political democracy," he said.

While the Kashmiri Pandit community has produced chartered accountants, doctors, and bankers, Shakdher claims that the younger generation has lost its grasp on the Kashmiri language.

"The issue is that the elderly Kashmiri Pandits are familiar with Kashmiri language and culture, but our young generation is not, and they will have a complex." "Besides political and constitutional living, language saves our rituals and identities," Shakdher remarked.

In response to these concerns, the LG of Delhi announced the formation of an institution dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Kashmiri.

"Additionally, he reached out to J&K's Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, who assured his support for the initiative and expressed his willingness to provide teachers and other staff to make this project a success," he said.

He stated that the LG of Delhi informed him that, as a first step, an Academy for Kashmiri and Dogri Languages will be established as soon as possible.

"LG of Delhi assured us that the government will explore the possibility of establishing a school modelled after various state associations-run institutions in other states to further bolster these language preservation efforts," he said.