Koshur—-Is it The End?

(Kashmir Rechords Exclusive)

In response to the blog dated September 21, 2023 that was carried in Kashmir Rechords regarding the need to preserve the Kashmiri language by Kashmiri Pandits who stand fragmented as part of international diasporas and who are facing the most acute, clear and present danger of their existence when they are allowing to skip conversation in the language of their forefathers to be replaced by a plethora of languages available to them in their new dwellings, we have received a quality write- up by one of the literary giants of Kashmiri language, Sh. Makhan Lal Pandita.

This Kashmiri write-up was forwarded to www.kashmir-rechords.com in the purest Nastalique font and very urgent points have been raised therein which we believe are of immense value to the post nineties generation of Kashmiri Pandits if at all they care for the Kashmiri language.  At Kashmir Rechords, We have tried to be most authentic in translating the original manuscript forwarded to our platform and for our esteemed readers we are enclosing the same for fact checking also. Those who are acquainted with Nastaliq script can also read/download the original write-up it here:-

Here is the translated version of Shri Pandita’s Kashmiri write-up:-

“Every literate Kashmiri in daily conversations makes use of many an English word. There can be two reasons that explain the preference of incorporating English words in our daily conversations. Either one doesn’t seem to have complete mastery over the day to day Kashmiri or even if one may have the ability, one’s knowledge about the Kashmiri is shrinking due to the reduced word stock at one’s disposal on account of the same having got abandoned since the same is no longer being used any more. Whatever the situation, one’s psyche seems to have been dominated by the idea that it is fashionable to speak in English.

Enter nineties, everything changed, the ambience and the need for adjustment with the prevailing environment presented itself with the fact that something was out of tune. While in conversation many fumbles would occur. Women especially found it extremely arduous to converse in Hindi and Urdu. “Bijli Daalo” “Pani Pakdo” translation shortcuts for words like “switch on the lights please” and “Collect some water”. These words were coined as amalgams to the closest meanings of the situations as they arose.

English and `Hindi-isation’ of Kashmiri

Vendors in order to lure the customers usually resort to the practice of giving extra green chilly as a top up to the basket of vegetables purchased by the customer. Should they forget to put these extra inducements, the ladies and the old guys alike would come up with an urgent demand “ Mujhe mirchein Daalo “ None the less a hilarious demand when translated even though the import of the demand was acquiring some extra green chilies.. A keen listener will surely come across many such words even today.

A teacher Ghulam Hassan Manto taught us English. After the customary morning prayers, his flawless lectures on diverse topics to us would be in English. We would crave for the attainment of the quality of his English and were eagerly awaiting the day when we would become proficient in English like him. The English language appeared to be full of vitality and energy and the same longing continues to this day. The village people even though they conversed in pure Kashmiri but words like ‘teacher’, ‘news’ etc. would inadvertently come up in their conversations. They also seemed to nurture the opinion that real education only meant to possess the ability to speak in English only. Even though our own generation was endowed with the natural ability and had the wherewithal to converse in native Kashmiri, we also would succumb to the habit of incorporating one or two English words compulsorily even though English had not dominated the discourse the way it has now. In the villages, whenever we tried this the listener would promptly interrupt and admonish us on the ground that while he was conversing in pure Kashmiri we were trying to act over smart by incorporating the unnecessary English words.

I had once proceeded to Delhi to buy certain items for marriage purpose. My cousin who was born and brought up at Delhi accompanied me to Chandi Chowk area to visit some shops who had acquired a certain reputation for selling quality products. Since the items had fixed prices listed on them she bade me not to open my mouth lest they will get the idea that we do not belong to this place. She told me that the shopkeepers would get the impression that we are Kashmiris and we are demanding unrealistic price cuts. The same situation persisted in Jammu. The result was that everyone including the children were forced to encounter the challenge of speaking an alien language and they fumbled a lot while conversing in Hindi. This resulted in putting in focus Hindi only. Inside their homes, these children are unable to cultivate the finenesses to speak in the native Kashmiri language and even if they try, the result is a battered conversation beyond redemption. If we force them to speak in Kashmiri, I think such an action will not yield anything. This is because they do not have the inclination and the prevailing environment is abhorrent to their longing for their native language and thus how are they supposed to converse in Kashmiri? It is believed that a child usually learns something on his own up to the age of five years. It remains embedded in his/her  consciousness and becomes his or her mother tongue. Undoubtedly, the mother tongue is the only thing that binds us to our culture. A mature analysis will reveal that those children who do not know and speak in Kashmiri are almost unaware about the Kashmiri culture also. They try to keep pace with the new environment resulting in their getting deviated from Kashmiri language and culture. Should such children somehow stand united or find the opportunity to appreciate the same, still they will never come out of their native field of language and culture.

Inability to converse in mother tongue

The inability on part of our children and others not being able to strike a conversation in the mother tongue is embedded in our consciousness and we do not want our children to face this. The children find the idea of taking up daily conversations in Kashmiri akin to the shrinking field that lacks the attraction to bind them to it. The likely reason being there is a deep connection with the culture of the place. The children including the parents want that their future should not force starvation on them and they should be successful in getting relocated to some other environment where the skills they get equipped with aid them in earning their livelihood. That’s the reason why they somehow want to get over the stage of passing (10+ 2) examination to pursue such technical courses which can provide them jobs and be able to make them earn their livelihood.

Meanwhile it so happened that these children were preferred in admissions to the technical colleges in Maharashtra and they succeeded in attaining some or the other kind of employment that would make them stand on their feet. Many among them made their way to foreign lands. Their elders were happy and in the heart of hearts were elated to explore the opportunity of visiting foreign lands themselves. This became the trend. The companies that employ these children lay emphasis on the need to cultivate a nice and smart personality coupled with excellent communication skills and it is here that the parents think that English language is the key to acquire the same in addition to the technical aptitude for the job. Such capabilities are not dependent on somebody’s goodwill. The field is wide open. The language of the new culture has incorporated Latin, Greek and French in its lingo. The third edition of Oxford Dictionary has incorporated 240 Hindi words (the figure may be more) in its repertoire. It is on account of this attribute it has become the global language. Thus, the parents invest whatever resource they have at their disposal to acquire this capability for their children. We have so far not given thought to the idea that priority should be accorded to cultivate the spirit of striking a conversation in Kashmiri because the same lies elsewhere viz, our children should not suffer hardships.

The Global Challenge

I want to share the awkwardness I faced while speaking in the English during my visit to Canada. I was asked by my son to take my granddaughter from school. Upon reaching the school the Principal came up and very politely asked me what could she do for me? I appeared to strike a fluent conversation with the shopkeepers, milk and grocery men at malls but upon seeing her I got unnerved. Awkward words got sprouted out of my mouth,” My grandmother is a student of your school. She gave me a strangely awkward look. Pat came her reply,” What ?”. I repeated the mistake. She could not fathom anything. She called someone and asked to make out what was being said. I realized my folly. I laughed at myself. “My granddaughter is a student of your school. The world of internet has added its own technical lingo and new experimentations on social media galore. Elders like me are constantly seeking help from our young children. There has been manifold increase in world population which has brought out its own pressures. To be in constant motion to earn is the new mantra with the result that we have forgotten as to who we are. The job market is getting squeezed by the day. The limited jobs that emerge require one to be equipped with English knowing capabilities. These are some of the reasons that have been enumerated to throw light on the fact that why our children are not inclined to strike conversations in their mother tongue. I am sure it will be very hard to understand Parmanand ji or some other such Sufi poet in today’s milieu. They seem to have to do nothing with them.

However, as one’s age advances existential questions come up. The need to go back to one’s roots overpowers the consciousness. The need to come to terms with oneself dominates every other thing. Alas! The mother tongue is not there to get one back to his or her roots. Thus, it is imperative that parents in spite of the challenges they are facing should continue to strike a rapport with their children and converse in Kashmiri. This is the only way to preserve our identity as Kashmiris.

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About the Author:

Noted Kashmiri writer, Makhan Lal Pandita, also known in literary circles as `Kashmir’s Prem Chand’, has penned down several works in Kashmir language, besides has a collection of many short stories to his credit.  Some of them are Karna Phur (2000), Girdhab (2003), Rambe Ara Bathis Pyeth (2006), Poat Tshaay (2008), Barsali (2010) and Yeli Ba Canada Gowus (2011). J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages has awarded Sh Makhan Lal Pandita for his novel Saaz Bonen Hund. Sh Pandita has also written several  monologues and Research Papers.