National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah has voiced strong concerns over attempts to undermine the Urdu and Kashmiri languages, urging people to safeguard their linguistic heritage against efforts to brand them as merely regional or religious languages.
On the occasion of Mother Language Day, Abdullah highlighted the significance of preserving one’s language, culture, and traditions, stating that nations which neglect their linguistic roots eventually fade into history. He called upon the people of Jammu and Kashmir to ensure that these languages are passed on to future generations to sustain their identity and heritage.
Expressing alarm at what he termed as “hostile elements” attempting to harm these languages, he stressed the need for collective resistance against such narratives. He emphasized that preserving all languages spoken in Jammu and Kashmir is crucial to upholding the region’s unique identity and the essence of Kashmiriyat.
Abdullah further noted that safeguarding linguistic diversity across Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, including Urdu, is a shared responsibility. He underscored that sustaining the existence of a people is deeply linked to keeping their mother tongues alive.
“The hallmark of thriving nations is their continuous effort to keep their civilization, culture, and language vibrant,” Abdullah remarked, urging individuals to take proactive steps in protecting their linguistic heritage. [KNT]
