On the use of Hindi in government work and examinations, the BJP-led Central Government has been loud in Jammu and Kashmir. Local Kashmiri leaders and activists are expressing displeasure over the neglect of Urdu and Kashmiri languages. This dispute arises after the advertisement issued for the post of Naib Tehsildar of the Revenue Department of Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (SSB). Urdu language was kept compulsory for this. The BJP reacted sharply to this and said that by doing so, students from Hindu -dominated areas of Jammu region will be deprived of jobs.
Jammu and Kashmir BJP organization general secretary Ashok Kaul said, “We are not against any language. Five languages have been declared official language: Urdu, Kashmiri, Hindi, Dogri and English. We should not impose any particular language on the candidates. Candidates who know Hindi or Dogri should also get a chance for equally government posts. They cannot be excluded just because they know other languages other than Urdu. We cannot tolerate such policies. ”
In addition to political debate on the matter, once again, divisive debate on ‘Urdu for Muslims for Muslims and Hindi for Hindus’. The linguist of Kashmir and people working for the language are expressing serious concern over the neglect of Kashmiri and Urdu language.
Apart from English, Urdu is the official language in Kashmir. Especially documents are also released here in both these languages. Government offices work largely in English and Urdu. Urdu is used in the revenue and police departments.
Abdul Rashid Hanjura, a lawyer and activist who works for the promotion of Urdu language, says, “All the work in the revenue department and police is being done in Urdu. Police reports and revenue documents are prepared in Urdu. We cannot do this work in Hindi. ”
On the language quarrel, the well-known linguist of Kashmir, Dr. Nazir Ahmed Dhar, says that “the dialogues between the people have enriched languages.” Kashmiri language has also borrowed some words from the English language, such as Crackdown, Militant. These words are in common use. This increases the language. ”
He says, Urdu became the official language during Dogra rule and people could talk in this language in various fields, so they had no inconvenience. Persian was used in the courts of Dogra rulers, but Urdu was made an official language, so that people from different regions like Jammu and Ladakh could speak in a common language. If anyone was made an official language in other languages, there was a possibility of opposition from other groups. In this, English also became an assistant language. We have all the scientific material in this language, it also became necessary for academics. ”
Prior to the latest Urdu language controversy for the post of Naib Tehsildar, the Jammu and Kashmir official language Bill, 2020 was passed in Parliament in September 2020, within a year of the cancellation of Article 370, which deprived Jammu and Kashmir to its special status, in September 2020, in which Kashmiri, Dogri, besides the current Urdu and English, was also made an official language.
National Conference (NC) spokesman Imran Nabi Dar says, “There is no point in politicizing the issue which language people are using.” Urdu is not only the language of Muslims, there are other people in Jammu, who write and read Urdu. The BJP is trying to incite only communal fire by raising such issues. ”
PDP is also connecting this issue with communalism. Party spokesperson Mohit Bhan also considers the BJP’s demand illegitimate. He says that the BJP’s demand to remove Urdu as a compulsory subject in Naib Tehsildar examination is useless. He says, “Urdu lies deeply in the culture of India. This language acts like a bridge connecting people of all religions. It is very superficial politics to make language an issue. ‘
Whatever be the result of language politics, but at the moment it can be said that the BJP has given another issue of debate.
