SRINAGAR: In the backdrop of NEP 2020 and the recent decision of the government to include Kashmiri and Dogri Languages as official languages of the UT, the University of Kashmir has decided to work for the promotion of Kashmiri language in the Kashmir division besides other regional languages while as the University of Jammu shall similarly promote Dogri in the Jammu division in addition to other regional languages of the Jammu division, said an official statement.
Earlier during 86TH council meeting of Jammu University, held at Rajbawan here, the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the Chancellor of the two Universities, impressed upon both the Universities to work out modalities for the promotion and use of Kashmiri, Dogri, Gojri, Pahari and other local languages in their respective regions, it said.
The statement said that chairing a high-level meeting of the two Universities, the Vice-Chancellor, KU Prof Talat Ahmad stressed upon the participants to develop a concrete strategy for strengthening Kashmiri, Dogri and other regional languages for greater use in academics and administration in the two regions. The Vice-Chancellor University of Jammu Prof Manoj Dhar and senior functionaries from both the Universities attended the meeting.
According to the statement, Prof Talat also expressed the need to establish Regional Language Academies for the promotion of regional languages in the two regions of the J&K UT. Prof Manoj Dhar, VC, Jammu University informed that the Department of Dogri in JU and Department of Kashmiri in KU are being developed into centres of excellence for the promotion of the two languages and efforts are being made for the promotion of various other regional languages in the same direction.
It said that underlining the fact that best education takes place in the mother tongue, Prof Talat stressed the importance of developing curriculum and content based on students’ needs. “This will empower the youth of J&K to play their crucial part in nation-building and make UT the centre of knowledge, enterprise, innovation, and skill development as envisaged in the New Education Policy-2020,” he added.
Appreciating the government’s intentions to promote local languages, the Vice-Chancellors of the two Universities underlined the need for urgent action to prepare modalities and framework for strengthening the local languages at the academic and administrative level. The VCs observed that the best possible methods of teaching and learning should be adopted in mother tongue along with the regular capacity building programmes for teaching and administrative staff, it said.
Both the Vice-Chancellors agreed to chalk-out a suitable well-defined strategy for continuous professional development for in-service teachers for use of Kashmiri, Dogri, Gojri, Pahari and other regional languages. “It is also important to encourage and incentivise the translation of great literary works various local/ regional languages. This will also help in the promotion of the culture, traditions, and rich heritage of Jammu & Kashmir and the country.” an official quoted VCs of KU and JU as having said.
