Saving a language

As the use of Kashmiri declines, digital platforms helmed by youngsters have taken the lead in promoting the language

Bilal Gani

Updated At : 06:07 AM Aug 26, 2025 IST

Seerat Hafiz (right), who runs an online Kashmiri reading club, with poet, writer and critic Prof Shafi Shauq.

Kashmiri, or Koshur, is one of the oldest spoken languages in the world. It originated in the Dardic region and is mainly spoken in Kashmir and Chenab valley, and in parts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. However many scholars, including George Grierson, place Kashmiri in the Indo-European language family.

THE TRIBUNE, India’s oldest, daily English-language newspaper, was first published on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan), and save for 40 days in the immediate aftermath of Partition, has come out every day over the last 145 years. THE TRIBUNE was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist of the time. The newspaper is run by a five-member Trust, which is chaired by Shri N N Vohra, former Governor of J&K State (2008-2018); as well as Justice S S Sodhi, former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court; Shri Gurbachan Jagat, former Governor of Manipur; Lt Gen. Shamsher Singh Mehta, former Western Army Commander; Shri Paramjit Singh Patwalia, Senior Advocate in the Supreme Court.

THE TRIBUNE is free, objective, and independent. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language, are the hallmarks of the paper.

The Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).

Remembering Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia

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Saving a language

As the use of Kashmiri declines, digital platforms helmed by youngsters have taken the lead in promoting the language

Bilal Gani

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