Nainital MP releases Kumaoni-Garhwali dictionary
Tribune News Service
Dehradun, December 24
Nainital MP BS Koshiyari today claimed that that it was a disbelief that Garhwali and Kumaoni languages were on the brink of extinction.
Addressing a gathering after releasing “Kumaoni Garhwali Jaunsari Shabdkosh”, a dictionary on Kumaoni Garhwali Jaunsari vocabulary penned by Bharti Pandey, Nainital MP BS Koshiyari said he does not “believe” in putting these languages in an endangered category by UNESCO.
He said Garhwali, Kumaoni and Jaunsari languages were spoken widely and had no dearth of speakers. He said these languages in terms of speakers were rather growing by the day. He lauded Bharti Pandey for her Herculean task of coming up with such a detailed book on Kumaoni and Garhwali vocabularies.
Garhwali folk singer Narendra Singh Negi said vocabulary kept immense importance as far as folk songs were concerned. He said Garhwali language was an ancient language and was being written since 11th century. Former bureaucrat SS Pangtey stressed the importance of a combined dictionary for Kumaoni, Garhwali and Jaunsari languages.
Pandey said it took her eight years to come up with the dictionary. Pandey said she had been interacting with Garhwali, Kumaoni and Jaunsari intelligentsia and also the masses to get maximum words for the dictionary. She also expressed gratitude to late Ratan Singh Jaunsari for his contribution in enhancement of the book. She also thanked the Winsar Publication for the support for making the dictionary one of the best.
Publisher of the book Kirti Nawani said the need for a dictionary on Kumaoni, Garhwali and Jaunsari languages were being felt for quite some time and asserted that he was hopeful that the dictionary would also cater to the need of researchers apart from the common man.
