A Facebook Conversation on Kashmir.

Mridu Rai:

To all Kashmiri friends: A wonderful student at Presidency

University, Satyaki Majumdar, asked me to contribute something I might
say about what Kashmiris might want to say about their mother tongue as
we celebrate the patriotism (not nationalism), the affection, the many
sentiments that all our languages of comfort, political and otherwise,
draw from us.

Who am I to speak for Kashmiris? May I ask you to share your thoughts so
that Satyaki might have them to share with the many friends you have at
Presidency University?

Ananya Jahanara Kabir dear Mridu, I am taking this opportunity to alert Satyaki to the
chapter in my book 'Territory of Desire', termed 'Conscripting Silence', that focused in detail
on precisely this issue of the mother tongue 'kosher'. of course it is not written by a
Kashmiri, but it involves copious citation of statements, creative and political, by a range of
Kashmiris. He may find the primary material I have collected useful.
Satyaki Majumdar Thank you so much, Ma'am. I will try my best to access the chapter you
have been so kind to point out.
Like Reply 1 February 22 at 11:50pm

Satyaki Majumdar Ma'am, I have been unable to access the chapter. Our institutional
access does not extend to ProjectMuse, So, could you send me some selected excerpts from
the chapter as you see fit?
Like Reply February 23 at 8:16pm

Ananya Jahanara Kabir what about the book itself? is it not available in any library to
which you have access? that's rather shocking! nothing from the book is on project muse as
what I referred you to is a chapter from a book (not an article in a journal)
Like Reply February 23 at 8:17pm

Ananya Jahanara Kabir perhaps Mridu Rai possesses a copy, and would be persuaded to
lend it to you.
Like Reply February 23 at 8:18pm

Satyaki Majumdar Thank you for taking so much trouble, Ma'am. I'll ask Mridu ma'am if
she can lend me her copy for a day.
Like Reply February 23 at 8:20pm

Ananya Jahanara Kabir i am planning to put chapters in pdf form on

my academia.edu page. when that's done I will come back to this comment thread and alert
you.
Academia.edu - Share research
Academia.edu is a place to share and follow research.
ACADEMIA.EDU
Like Reply 1 February 23 at 8:20pm

Ananya Jahanara Kabir In any case I feel that you should ask your institution to order a
copy. Not because I wrote the book, but because i know for a fact that it is the only book in
existence to date that treats the conflict from the perspective of a literary and cultural ...See
More
Like Reply February 23 at 8:24pm Edited

Satyaki Majumdar Thank you so much, Ma'am!

Like Reply 1 February 23 at 8:24pm

Mridu Rai Satyaki and Ananya, my apologies for my delayed reply. Of course, I have a copy
of Professor Kabir's work and would be very happy to lend it to you.
Like Reply 1 February 24 at 12:36am

Ananya Jahanara Kabir That solves the immediate problem of finding time to scan stuff on
pdf! Thanks so much Mridu and hope Satyaki will find something of utility in there!
Like Reply February 24 at 12:44am

Mridu Rai Dear Ananya, I know he will! Btw, I met your uncle recently--only very briefly--I
am speaking of Justice Kabir.
Like Reply 1 February 24 at 12:45am

Ananya Jahanara Kabir That's very nice to hear :-)

Like Reply February 24 at 12:54am

Satyaki Majumdar Thank you so much, Mridu Ma'am!

Like Reply 1 February 24 at 1:22am

Write a reply...

Arkamitra Ghatak That would be so wonderful mam

Like Reply 1 February 22 at 6:25pm

Sushil Kumar kush chu

Like Reply February 22 at 6:37pm

M Tahir Firaz I recently read a good piece on Kashmiri language and Representation by
Jahanara Kabir. She can read that as well.
Like Reply 3 February 22 at 7:14pm

Ananya Jahanara Kabir that is one of the essays that went into the formation of the
chapter I write about above. Thank you for the citation M Tahir Firaz.
Like Reply 2 February 22 at 7:32pm

M Tahir Firaz I found this essay incisive and insightful. Thanks for writing it. :)

Like Reply 1 February 22 at 7:44pm

Write a reply...

Kuldeep Bhat Mridu Ji, Don't ask them. They do not speak Kashmiri any longer! Ask them
about Arabic, Persian and of course Urdu which they love. Kashmiri is dead long back
alongwith Kashmiriyat !
Like Reply February 22 at 7:32pm

M Tahir Firaz Kuldeep soab, yim "they" kam chi tuheenidi yisaab. Meani ghari chi saari
kashur bol bosh karaan, meani matamaal ti, meani maasi hindh ti, ti aami alaav hamsai
shuer ti (bad'en hinz cha na kath'ai).
Like Reply 3 February 22 at 7:46pm

Hayat Amin Albata kashir pandit shouren tchuni tagan kaeshur kehn
Like Reply February 22 at 10:31pm

Mridu Rai Kuldeep Bhat, for the record, Satyaki, is someone you should not take at all
seriously. He is a member of the usual bigoted brigade. He speaks no language other than
that of hate.
Like Reply 1 February 24 at 12:39am
Write a reply...

Arkamitra Ghatak Can u please translate what this means...it sounds very lyrical
Like Reply February 22 at 7:51pm

M Tahir Firaz Arkamitra are you referring to my comment?

Like Reply February 22 at 8:02pm

Mridu Rai Yes, she is. I would love a translation, too, Tahir.
Like Reply February 24 at 12:40am

M Tahir Firaz Mridu, I wrote it already. It must be after next few comments!
Like Reply February 24 at 1:20am

Write a reply...

Khurshid Ul Islam With due regards to dear friend Mirdu ,it is a fact that Kashmiri language
unfortunately not in good shape ,though efforts by some people and organizations ensured
that it is made part of school curriculum till 8th standard....English as in other parts of India
is the most preferred language ...But Mr Kuldeep Bhat is again not right when he writes that
"Ask them about Arabic,Persian and urdu"..... Even these languages are on decline in our
state ......though urdu is the official language of the state ,it is hardly part of any official
document or official business .........it is English
Like Reply February 22 at 7:57pm

Kuldeep Bhat Urdu is a part and parcel of Judiciary, revenue, police and many other official
works :in the valley, atleast!
Like Reply February 22 at 8:35pm

Write a reply...
Arkamitra Ghatak Yes sir
Like Reply February 22 at 8:03pm

M Tahir Firaz Lol! i am glad that you found it lyrical. Well, i was asking Mr. Kuldeep and i
translate it (roughly though): "Mr. Kuldeep, who are "they" in your statement; in my family
everyone speaks Kashmiri, in my maternal home as well as at my aunt's [mother's-
sister];moreover, our neighborhood kids speak it too (and not to talk about the elders)."
Like Reply 3 February 22 at 8:15pm

Write a reply...

Farooq Ahmad The shift towards Urdu was a momentary trend especially in srinagar but
that trend has reversed now.....i being a student of language studies tookpart in several
research serveys found that people at present have become conscious of the decline of
kashmiri and the shift is back to kashmiri in informal domains like family, local community
conversations, peer groups etc. The formal domains such as education and offices have
been taken over by English, partially if not completely, as is the case with other languages of
south Asia. Kashmiris at present have a positive atitude towards kashmiri which is even
being asserted at present. A recent observation shows that people even chat in kashmiri
with roman script. English, as it does to all regional languages, poses a threat to kashmiri at
least in official domains, for it holds all the employment opportunities as well as enjoys very
high prestige.......
Like Reply 4 February 22 at 8:14pm

Sayantan Datta What a wonderful thread!

Like Reply February 22 at 8:53pm

Satyaki Majumdar Cheshire, I was delightfully surprised that Mridu Ma'am actually took
the care to initiate such an instructive thread. One of the better means that Facebook has
provided of meaningful communication in recent times. And I must thank each and every
person participating in this thread from the bottom of my heart.
Like Reply 1 February 22 at 11:51pm

Sayantan Datta Thank you for actually asking the question!

Like Reply 1 February 22 at 11:58pm

Write a reply...
Syed Haamid Bukhari Rizvi join the only authentic and precise course in kashmiri
language and kashmiri grammar course,go to utube and write there, kashmiri language
course with syed haamid bukhari
Like Reply February 22 at 10:07pm

Jagyoseni Mandal This is indeed a very good proposal ma'am!

Like Reply February 22 at 11:51pm

Sajad Rather Kuldeep Bhat : absoloutely agree with you , this urdu / hindi ( with
Rediculiously broken dilect ) has taken more space in kashmir .

Many copy cats get irritated here in valley if we speak in kashmiri with them.
Like Reply 1 February 23 at 10:00am

Sajad Rather Pannin koker nay baad aisyaa tee baykis sindees maaris maa acsheyaa
Like Reply 1 February 23 at 10:03am

Arkamitra Ghatak Jagyosenidi..if mam allows..please attend her classes on making india
postcolonial...she ocassionally keeps providing us interesting insights on kashmir :)

Like Reply February 23 at 11:08am

Sayantan Datta Can we all make a summary of this thread, and keep it as a note on our
profiles? This is some really interesting insight on how the politics of language is executing
itself in the valley.
Like Reply 1 February 23 at 11:11am

Maria C Hearty Having lived here for nearly 20 years my own grasp of the language is
shamefully poor! Not only is it a difficult language but sadly, one that is less used than urdu
or english in common parlance, particularly to a foreigner. However, my husband and our
children are fluent in Kashmiri. It is important to them as it defines their identity. They tell
jokes (that are not funny in any other language) in Kashmiri, the nuances would be lost in
translation.

The Kashmiri language is deeply entrenched in Kashmir folklore, tradition and heritage. It is
a language of resistance to external forces that would seek to dilute the rich cultural
heritage of literature and poetry, not to mention unity. At the very core of Kashmiri identity is
their language. I can speak for my own native language, the Irish language. The first thing
the British did was to undermine the use of their native language in seeking to anglify the
nation. Many resisted and were vilified in schools and the work place was closed to them.
The Irish language was made to appear backward and its use punished. Thankfully, Irish
people continue to resist and the use of Irish is growing rapidly, fluency is a badge of honour
for many.
Like Reply 4 February 23 at 11:44am
Kuldeep Bhat So you are equating now Irish problem with the Kashmir problem @Maria ? I
do not know about Ireland but i surely know of Kashmir and kashmiri.We Kashmiris
ourselves,Voluntarily discarded the use of our mother tongue and for politico-religious
reasons ! Go and ask your husband and you will be enlightened a bit !
Maria C Hearty No, I am not equating the "problems" I am equating the language and it's
importance and offering my own experience.
Like Reply 1 February 24 at 8:16am

Write a reply...

Satyaki Majumdar Mr. Bhat, if I may ask, could you tell me more about the politico-
religious reasons that prompted the discarding of Kashmiri as a language? I simply do not
know about this, and I would be delighted if you could tell us all a bit more. We are anxious
to learn, and this would help us a great deal.
Like Reply 2 February 23 at 7:55pm

Arkamitra Ghatak Perhaps mridu mam can help us with this...since it has to come from
someone in position of authority..we would love it if we could have it at the history seminar
library
Like Reply 1 February 23 at 8:31pm

Sayantan Datta Sure!

Like Reply February 23 at 9:19pm

Satyaki Majumdar Great!

Like Reply February 23 at 9:33pm

Arkamitra Ghatak meanwhile mridu mam's "Hindu ruler muslim subjects" is at the seminar
lbrary
Like Reply February 23 at 9:34pm

Write a reply...

Mridu Rai Come on Farah, Suhail, Inder and others, it's no use simply hitting
"like". Satyaki and his fellow students need to hear from you. Please?
Like Reply February 24 at 12:49am
M Tahir Firaz The more competent person than me to talk about this subject would be Abir
Bazaz.
Like Reply February 24 at 1:26am

Satyaki Majumdar Mridu Ma'am, summarising this thread into one narrative is a rather
difficult task. I shall however, take it in my stride.
Like Reply 1 February 24 at 6:07am

Inder Salim Maje zev means mother tongue in Kashmiri. Meaj is mother , maje means
mother's, and zev means tongue but also birth. So "maje zev" also means born to mother or
give birth to urself by mother. Again to be born means then to reuse the mother's language
which has been slashed mercilessly after ' partition'. Kashmiri language as oral culture never
suffered under regimes who operated through Sanskrit or Persian as it suffered after 1947. A
united J & k under Urdu and English was the a political decision to run administration but the
failure of that unitedness at a deeper level legitimizes the revival of Kashmiri language not
only as tool of resistance but to discover feminine lucid lamentable dancing fragrant side of
Kashmir. Ironically almost all the male representative leaders of resistance don't consider
this argument as vital but distantly peripheral unlike numerous kashmiri individuals. That is
hidden layer of ongoing struggle. Take my first name Inder as sound is.non-existent in
Kashmir. It is Yender which comes from Yantra therefore spinning wheel not lord Indra.
Like Reply 2 February 25 at 1:17pm Edited

Kuldeep Bhat Yendrazini durbar, nagma Karaan..... yes not heard in Kashmir after the
genocide of KPs!
Like Reply February 24 at 6:09pm

Inder Salim Inderazin durbar cant enter the song. Only yendrazin. :)

Like Reply February 25 at 1:15pm

Write a reply...

Suhail Lolu This might help your friend , interview of great kashmiri poet .... Here it is Mridu

http://www.kashmirlit.org/kashmiri-language-is-a-nation.../

In Conversation with Professor Rahman

Rahi
Interview by Majid Maqbool

Rahman Rahis residence in Vecharnag is on a slightly elevated ground. An air of

melancholic loneliness surrounds the poets house. I ring the bell of the small, old

style wooden door. Rahi Sahab himself comes out, and quietly greets me in. Vaelev

yaeve, taapas behvee kene andar bahmaeu, (Come in. Should we sit in the garden

or inside?). We sat in the garden, where it is warm with the sun directly coming

down on a pleasant Sunday morning. Rahi sahab goes inside briefly to put on his

coat. I need a table to place the recorder on. Rahi sahab, immediately sensing my

need as soon as he came out, went back to get the table for me. Before I switch on

the tape recorder, he makes me feel comfortable with a light chat, offers me tea,

and then he politely asks: should we begin? He says that he is not fluent in English.

But knowing that the interview is for an English publication, he answers all the

questions in English. And contrary to his confession, Rahi sahab spoke in

impeccable English throughout the interview.

Rahman Rahi has an emphatic and poetic way of speaking. He talks in an animated

voice as if he is in front of an audience. And his eyes light up like a child whenever

he speaks about Kashmiri language and literature. As he talks, a beatific smile

plays on his lips. A special kind of love affair for Kashmiri language reflects in his

answers. He is hopeful of the future of Kashmiri language. He also says that we

must learn the English language but cautions in the same breath: if theres no

Kashmiri language, there will be no Kashmiri, and hence there will be no Kashmir.

How do you see the future of Kashmiri language, say, after thirty or forty

years?
The thing is that whichever the nation, if it is conscious of the importance of its

language, nobody can kill that language. We have a very glaring example of the

Israelis before us. They were scattered throughout the world, speaking different

languages but they had the idea of their language i.e. Hebrew. When they came

together, they revived it, they enriched it and made it a viable medium of

expression and education and all other intellectual pursuits. So it depends on

people, and if they are not conscious, they will lose their identity. They will lose their

very being as a separate or as a distinct nationality or nation. Kashmiri language is

a nation in itself by all means and by all angles. It has its own civilization and its

own culture. But I dont think Kashmiris are as conscious of Kashmiri language as

they used to be earlier.

There is a cultural onslaught on us. So we have to resist it, and preserve our

language. Not that we should hate or oppose other languages. We must learn other

languages. For example, our younger generation must learn English. The more

language we learn and speak, the better it is for us. Especially the English language,

it is an international language, it is the language of future, it is the language of

knowledge and it is the library language also. So we cant do away with it, we must

learn it. But to start with if we want to educate our young people and educate the

nation in the real sense of the word, and if we want to have real concepts of things

around usthat can be done only through our mother tongue. Because every

language has at least three meanings: every word has three meanings: the

dictionary meaning, the emotional meaning and the cultural meaning.

If you look for the meaning of a word in dictionary, you will have the definition there

but without the emotional meaning and without its cultural background. There are

some words which you can speak with me but cannot speak with your mother or

your sister. It will be perhaps uncultured to talk in those words before your elders.

For example, I can say I am glad, I am pleased, I enjoy these are three different

words. There is actually no equivalent for a word. In the dictionary you will find

equivalents, but emotionally and culturally words are different. For example, in

Kashmiri when someone sees a young girl and says, yeha che katej heish bolaan.

Now try translating this Kashmiri expression into English. Will you say she speaks

like a swallow! Or will you say in Urdu yae ababeel ke tarah boltee hai! So it

completely distorts the meaning and it even becomes derogatory.

Let me give you another example in Urdu language. In Urdu there are two words.

One word is aues that falls on the grass; it is also called shabnam. If you look in

the dictionary for the meaning of shabnam, it would be same as aues and vice

versa. But these are two different words. We say in Urduuskay armanoo par aues

padaee. We dont say, auskay armanoo par shabnam padee. We cant say

shabnam here in this expression because its emotional meaning is different.

Everybody sees the moon, be it the Russian, African or American, but Kashmiri sees

it differently. We say zoon mouj. We see it as a mother. And someone whose

language is Urdu, he will say chanda mama. So the way you find this world

depends on your language. You see it through your language. English and other

languages, you will learn, but that will be only intellectually. You will have only the

dictionary meaning. And if you ignore your mother tongue that means you ignore

two essential aspects of your personalitythe emotional aspect of your personality

and the cultural aspect of your personality. So you cant develop your personality as
an individual also without your mother tongue. Yes, you can have the emotional

meaning of English language provided that you live throughout in that atmosphere

or in that environ. So this is the importance of our mother tongue.

Do you think that Kashmiri youth are going away from their mother

tongue? And who is to blame for this?

You cant accuse them because our education system is such that they are deprived

of their own mother tongue. It is not their fault; it is the fault of our education

system. Our education system must change and give preference and importance to

our own mother tongue. The whole world agrees with this. Even the United Nations

recently organized Mother Tongue Day throughout the world. We have the example

of Iran before us, they are Muslims like us and they love their language and protect

it.

Our education system has now become a little conscious of it and they have

introduced Kashmiri language into schools after a long, long time. Kashmir language

was once introduced when Sheikh Abdullah was the prime minister. From 1948-1953

Kashmiri language not only was the part and parcel of our syllabus but it was a

medium of instruction also. All the subjects were taught in Kashmiri. And if that

process had prolonged and come to our times, Kashmiri language would have been

very much developed.

What was the reason behind this?

Sheikh Abdullah was politically not acceptable those days to the Indian government

and they put him behind the bars and along with him this language was put behind
the bars. Sheikh Abdullah came out of the prison, but our language did not come

out from behind the bars. Now the government is a little conscious of it. It was

Farooq Abdullah first who realized the importance of Kashmiri language. There were

intellectuals who met him and made him understand the importance of this

language and it was he who took the cabinet decision to introduce Kashmiri

language at the primary class level. Perhaps this government is also adhering to

that line. But ultimately what happens to our mother tongue is dependent on the

attitude of the people.

How has Kashmiri language evolved from the past? Do you see any

change in it over the years?

Kashmiri language has a very rich tradition. It is the most important language so far

as the history of language is concerned. It is the oldest language of all these

modern Indian languages. There are people who say that it is as old as Vedas. There

was a time when people used to think and scholars thought that Kashmiri language

is the daughter of Persian and Sanskrit. But now the conclusion at the scholastic

level is that that Kashmiri language is a sister of Persian and Sanskrit, not a

daughter. It is at least as old as Sanskrit and Persian. And so far as its creative

potential is concerned, it has a very, very rich potential. You have the evidence in

the form of Lal Ded and Sheik-ul-alam (RA) a chain of very great poets up to this

time. So that way we should be proud of our language. But the only thing is that we

must become conscious of the onslaught of other cultures and languages too. There

are people who want to kill our language for different reasons. They want us to lose

our identity and we have to protect it. We speak of our freedom, and our

independencebut we must also have this point in mind that our language is one part
of our independence and a very important aspect. If we lose our language and get

independence, that is perhaps not fruitful.

Where do you place Kashmiri language and literature as compared to

other languages and their literature?

Kashmiri language has been recognized by all knowledgeable people in India and

outside that it is one of the most important languages. And our literature recently

got national recognition. So our language is as important and full of treasure as any

other language. It has been ignored by all political systems we had right up from the

Mughals up to this time this language has been ignored. Now we wish and hope that

things will be better.

You were awarded the prestigious Gyanpith award, and you said that this

is an award for Kashmiri language and literature

This award that has been given to me as a person is in fact recognition to Kashmiri

language and the people who speak this language. Their identity has been

accepted. And it is a national award which means that every year they give this

Gyanpith award. There were many languages competing for this award and only

Kashmiri language was estimated as an important language at the national level. A

Kashmiri poet has been recognized as a national poet. Before this award also, I was

fortunate enough to receive another award called Rashtriye Kabir Samaan which is

also a national award. They didnt give this award that particular year to Bengali or

Malayalam or any other language. But Kashmiri language was selected for the

award out of all other competing language. So that means a virtual and actual

recognition of Kashmiri language as a national language. It has already been

accepted as national language. In the eighth schedule of Indian constitution also it

has already been accepted as one of the national languages. And it is as important

as Hindi, Urdu, Bengali and other languages. Indian constitution had earlier

recognized only seventeen languages and one of the languages was Kashmiri. Later

on other languages have also been also included in that eight schedule of

constitution.

How do you see the trend of Kashmiri Journalism, and do you think this

will popularize Kashmiri language among the masses?

This trend is very good and it should be appreciated and welcomed by all. We must

try to encourage such efforts as these are very important steps for the language.

We have the example of Sangarmal and another very good weekly, Soun Meeras.

How flexible is Kashmiri language in terms of adoption of words from

other languages?

Perhaps incomparable! Our language has all along been enriching itself with words

from other languages. It accepts them and adapts them. It changes their

pronunciation and it changes sometimes their meaning too. There are hundreds of

words which originated from Sanskrit or Persian or Arabic but when we use them,

we are not conscious of that. We use them consciously or subconsciously as if they

are our own words. And so is the case with other languages also. If you look at

English, it has improved itself by adapting words from French, German and other

languages. Even original Kashmiri words have been introduced into English

language, for instance the word deodar and Hangeul.

How far is the reach of Kashmiri language? Is it specific to our region only?

Kashmiri language is spoken in many parts of our state which are not included in

this valley. For instance Kishtwar, Badarwah, Dodaand even in Himachal Pradesh

you will find Kashmiri speaking people. And now Pandits have spread throughout

India and they are very conscious of their Kashmiri language. Our young generation

must become conscious of their mother tongue. People in some private schools

banned Kashmiri language from being spoken inside the school premises. They

would not allow it to be spoken inside the schools. And if this situation continues,

then how can you help it. So the speakers of the language itself are responsible and

they can play a very important role in protecting our language. Now the look at

rulers and politicians, they want votes. Politicians go to a village, there are many

pockets of our society where they know and speak only Kashmiri language. And our

politicians go and speak in Urdu there! We must become conscious that our

language is a nation in itself.

What is it about Kashmiri language that once youre away from your

motherland you have this irresistible urge to speak and reconnect with

your mother tongue?

People experience isolation once away from their roots. And they want to maintain

links with their roots. Kashmiri Pandits hardly spoke in Kashmiri when they were

here; they were as ignorant of the linguistic realities that they didnt speak Kashmiri

with a sense of pride. Now they are speaking in Kashmiri language as they are away

from their roots and theyve become conscious of their roots.

What are the latest trends in Kashmiri literature especially in Kashmiri

poetry?
Kashmiri language has had a great tradition of mystic literature and romantic

literature. Later we came in contact with other languages also like Urdu, Persian and

English. So new windows were opening and cultural ties were strengthened. We had

no prose in Kashmiri literature but now it has developed. Our short stories

qualitatively are as great as those of any other language and literature and so is the

poetry. So far as the changing trends are concerned, our poetry has adapted itself to

all the changes in conformation with their own tradition. So the old traditions and

new influences are there. And that way our Kashmiri literature is a living and vibrant

literature.

What about the translation of Kashmiri literature into other languages to

make it available to non-Kashmiri speaking people?

Thus is very important and translation must be done. For instance when I dont

know Bengali how can I know who was Tagore, so is the case with other languages

also. We have been asking for and demanding the concerned circles that we must

have a separate translation bureau here, either at the university or at the cultural

academy. This will help in translating Kashmiri literature into other languages and

literature of other languages into Kashmiri which will help in enriching our language.

We dont have scientific literature in Kashmir at the moment. And if we have a

translation bureau here, it will definitely enrich our language.

How do you see the Kashmiri literature in terms of quality that is being

written today? Are you happy with it?

Yes, very much. But our short story perhaps is not that powerful and that way

desirable as it was two decades before. But there are younger writers now who are

writing. I am not despondent. I am hopeful, and especially the Kashmiri poetry

which is as good and as fine as any poetry of the world. But we must have readers

and people who speak this language. There have been languages which are dead

now because the speakers of those languages did not carry on the tradition and

with the result those languages became extinct. They say that every day some

language becomes extinct in the world. So our language can also die out if we dont

care. And if Kashmiri language dies, it means a Kashmiri is dead, and that means

Kashmir is dead. People talk of Kashmiriyat; that is a hoax unless you have the

Kashmiri language. We take pride in our mystic past of Lal Ded, Sheik-ul- alam (RA)

and that is because of Kashmiri language. If you uproot this Kashmiri language,

there will be no Lal Ded, there will be no Sheik-ul- alamc(RA)and may I remind you

that we call the Sheik-ul- alams (RA) kalaam as the Kashmiri Quran. That means

we have learnt Islam through Kashmiri language.

If I ask you how should people of Kashmir remember Rahman Rahi?

They should pay attention to the development of Kashmiri language. Thats all. And

if this language lives on, Rahi also lives on. (Smiles)

I will quote a couplet from my poem:

Hasab nasab te mashed goyee, na taaj chea na asa

Waen chae yea zaev, te dapaan chea kashab racheat di sada

translation: You have forgotten you ancestry, your hierarchy, your old past. You

have this language left now, call back your own past again