Bilal Bashir Bhat
Srinagar, Sep 14 (Only Kashmir): Notwithstanding the controversy over the approval of Jammu and Kashmir Languages Bill 2020 by Narendra Modi cabinet which will make five languages—Urdu, Hindi, Kashmiri, Dogri and English—the official languages of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha today while addressing a presser in Srinagar said “I am trying to learn URDU language.”
The Modi cabinet’s decision earlier this month trigged a controversy with Urdu lovers’ suspecting and alleging that this decision will result in ending Urdu’s magnificent era of 131-years in Jammu & Kashmir.
Apologizing for using too many Hindi words in his speech while addressing a Press Conference in Srinagar on Monday, Lieutenant Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha said “I am trying to learn Urdu, adding, if I speak more wrong Urdu, it is not right either.”He said that the central government had recently given Hindi, Dogri, Kashmiri and English status of official languages in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, Urdu had the distinction of being the only official language here for at least 130 years.
The LG was responding a question of a correspondent who suggested that the Hindi language should not be used in a region like Kashmir, where people understand Urdu easily and are completely unfamiliar with Hindi.
Coincidentally, the LG Manoj Sinha’s statement, “I am trying to learn Urdu,” comes on a day when the India is celebrating Hindi Diwas to promote the Hindi Language.
Meanwhile, today Union Home Minister Amit Shah appealed to countrymen for more and more use of Hindi to contribute to the promotion of the national language. In a video message released on the occasion of ‘Hindi Diwas’, he said that it was only due to Hindi that the perennial river of Indian civilisation, culture, and values had been kept alive. He emphasised the use of Hindi in official work rather than translation of documents.
