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Dogri Language Dying Slow Death In Jammu

By Pallavi Sareen. Dated: 7/15/2018 11:17:03 AM

Dogri is a dying language in today's day and age. Even with 50-60 lakh Dogra population in the Jammu region, the Dogri language spread through newspapers, magazines, literature is slowly losing its importance.
Dogri is one of the 'oldest' modern Indian languages. But Dogri literature began to be written, in the real sense of the word, in the 18th century. The 19th century saw an inflow of Dogri literature by its promoters. The first children's magazine in Dogri Paniri was started in 1970 but it stopped publication after 3 issues. A small literary magazine Ambar, a monthly, was also started in 1975 but after 5 issues, even this crumbled under the weight of apathy of readers, subscribers and financial burden.
Similar was the case with many other magazines and literary efforts. Nami Chetana, an irregularly published magazine-dependent entirely upon its contributors and editors who receive no honorarium in return has managed to survive this far.
DogriSanstha began its efforts to popularize the language back in the 1980s through its literature and magazines such as Sarha Sahitya, an annual and Shiraza, a bi-monthly. But in the current day and age, Dogri has faced major setbacks. Despite being included in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution through 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 2003, the pace at which Dogri publication has slackened is evident through the figures.
In today's date, Jammu Prabhat is the only surviving daily Dogri Newspaper in Jammu, While Shiv Jyoti and Parchoal are the only weeklies.
Managing Director of Jammu Prabhat, Surinder Sagar commented upon this saying, "Even Jammu's people, the Dogras don't like Dogri anymore. They don't tell their kids to speak or learn Dogri. The language is disappearing from towns, cities and Districts."
Talking about the deterioration in the figures of Dogri Newspapers, he said, "Even the information Department does not give advertisements to Dogri Newspapers and that is one way for a newspaper's survival. They always give preference to Hindi, English and even Urdu, but don't even convey the news in Dogri language."
He further said, "The only people promoting Dogri in today's age don't do it out of their heart's wish but because of their selfish motives, under the shadow of Dogri-to get a seat in a cultural academy and such. Dogri Literature has fallen to such depths that when you begin to discuss the books that have won the Sahitya Akademi Award, you realize the standards of Dogri Literature in today's age. Dogri has become a victim to the lobbyists. In Kashmir, people are proud of their culture. They promote their languages. What has government done for Dogri in Jammu?"
Kashmir Times talked to others associated with the language and its promotion and they were of similar views.
"The one thing that promotes language in a community is its children's literature. When the children and youth begin accepting a language, only then it will grow. In today's time we do have Dogri Department on the College and University level but the building blocks that have to be laid down in School-level education is missing," said Dr Harish Kaila, President Navi Dogri Sanstha.
"Until there is some basics taught to the children at school level and they begin to get interested in 'Bal Sahitya', how can we expect the youth to embrace the Dogri language and culture?"
Dr Archana Kesar, HOD Dogri Department in Jammu university was of the view that, "State government is not serious about Dogri on the school-level. There have been Children Literature books in Dogri, the syllabus is being revised, children are getting interested in studying Dogri but there is this gap that is formed because of unavailability of Dogri teachers in schools."
She further said, "In colleges and universities there are enough lecturers and professors, we have MA and MPhil in Dogri but the promotion of Dogri should start from the base-level. It is the responsibility of parents and teachers to instill that love for Dogri in a child by providing them the means through this Dogri Literature."
Majority of people are of view that there is stagnation in the Cultural Academies and NGOs who take on the job of promoting Dogri Language.
"Everywhere you see, there are the same people-in Kavi Sammelan, book launches, any Dogri cultural event. How will Dogri reform and renew itself unless you give new Dogri writers a chance?" said Surinder Sagar.
Yet, Dr Archana refuted this by saying, "There are new awards like Sahitya Academy Young writer award in Dogri and Prof Ram Nath Shastri also began another award for Dogri writers, so these are things that motivate the new Dogri writers and give them recognition."
But despite talking about this matter with the most proficient in their fields, on ground level, there is a growing distance between the youth of Jammu and Dogri language. Literature is just one way of bridging the gap that is forming, the other more fast-forward way is through entertainment.
While the young generation prefer studying English, reading in mainstream national languages instead of regional languages, when it is about communicating or entertainment, they resort back to Dogri because of the connection they have with the language and the culture.
This is evident with some social media personalities who grow by taking the support of these regional languages. Kashur.mashur, an instagram and youtuber quickly got popular in social media because of the videos she made in Dogri and Kashmiri. Though Kashmiri by birth, she spoke and made content in perfect Dogri which entertained Dogra youth by thousands and soon her Dogri videos became her most popular uploads on Youtube.
Talking to Kashmir Times, she said, "Not everyone can get access to Dogri literature or choose to study Dogri but social media has a wide range these days, especially with the entertainment industry that attracts youth in huge numbers. This is why I think it is important to modernize the promotion tactics. See what makes the people of Jammu connect with Dogri again and use it." She also said, "I am of Kashmiri birth but I speak many regional languages like Bhadarwahi, Dogri, Kashmiri among others. So I know how important language is to keep a person connected to its culture. When I see that the people today have formed an aversion to the language that is an identifier to their culture it is very disappointing. People should at least start talking in Dogri with their families if they feel uncomfortable to do so in front of their friends."
The entire crux that came out of these conversations was that we, as Dogras should not let the language be forgotten. Instead of just talking about the language, we should start making efforts to communicate in it, read it, share it and promote it on our personal and individual levels.
Some effort is made by the government, some by NGOs and Sansthas but the major part has to be acceptance by the society.