Jammu varsity hosts discussion on future of Indian languages

The Department of Strategic and Regional Studies at the University of Jammu organised a discussion on ‘Indian Languages and Their Future Prospective Direction,’ which saw active participation from political and social experts as well as scholars and students from disciplines such as Sanskrit, Dogri, Hindi and Punjabi.

BJP leader and patron of Samadhaan Foundation, Pawan Sharma, presided over the event and emphasised the importance of respecting all languages equally. He stressed that no language should be imposed or opposed, calling for greater efforts to preserve India’s linguistic diversity. Sharma also highlighted the urgent need for government action to create academic and administrative posts to support Indian and regional languages, which are vital for preserving India’s rich cultural heritage.

Keynote speaker Naresh Raina, a prominent writer, translator, and thinker, addressed the audience and discussed the significance of Article 343 of the Indian Constitution, the Eighth Schedule, and the National Education Policy 2020. He pointed out that these frameworks advocated the right to study in Indian languages from primary to higher education. However, he criticised the lack of action in creating posts for these languages at par with others recognised in the Constitution.

During the discussion, participants raised concerns about the neglect of Indian languages. Hindi postgraduate student Amresh Chouhan lamented the lack of attention given to Hindi despite its status as the national language. Sanskrit scholar Komal Parihar pointed out that Sanskrit, widely regarded as the scientific language of the world, has not been introduced at the primary level, and necessary academic posts remain uncreated. Punjabi scholar Amandeep Kaur highlighted the uncertainty faced by scholars of Punjabi due to the insufficient advertisement of posts in the language. The event provided a platform for a critical dialogue on the future of Indian languages.