Need for Lok Bhasha Academy in state: Negi

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 12

Garhwali folk singer Narendra Singh Negi has stressed the need for setting up Lok Bhasha Academy in the state for promoting Garhwali, Kumaoni, Jaunsari and other local dialects.

Negi, who was felicitated by the Lok Samman Samiti on his 66th birthday today, said it was a collective responsibility of all to patronise local dialects. “We are responsible for the sorry state of affairs of the local dialects as we discourage our children from speaking Garhwali, Kumaoni and other languages”, said Negi. He said it was wrong to expect too much from political parties, which were more concerned about seeking votes.

However, he said all was not lost for the local dialects as there had been growing sense of concern among Uttarakhandis to patronise these dialects, which was a good sign.

The folk singer said he had got invitations from Uttarakhandis settled in the US, Canada and Australia to perform there. Another Garhwali folk singer, Pritam Barathwan, sought the second rajbhasha status for Garhwali and Kumaoni dialects in the state. He laid emphasis on bringing these dialects under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution to provide them adequate protection.

Educationist Ram Vinay Singh stressed on linking language with employment. He said a language could only survive if it was linked with employment.

Bharti Pandey said migration from the hill areas was also one of the reasons behind people’s neglect of the local dialects. Earlier, Lok Samman Samiti president Kalyan Singh Rawat reiterated the samiti’s commitment to work for the promotion of the local dialects.