Srinagar, Feb 21: National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah on Friday called on Jammu and Kashmir residents to cherish and protect their linguistic roots ahead of International Mother Language Day.
Paying tribute to the region’s diverse languages, Abdullah described one’s mother tongue as “not merely a means of communication, it is the heartbeat of culture, the cradle of memory and the mirror of who we are.”
He stressed making mother tongues the primary medium of instruction in schools during children’s early years, as “language shapes thought, imagination, and belongingness.”
Highlighting Kashmiri’s “luminous legacy” of classical verses, mystical poetry, folk ballads, and scholarly works, Abdullah called it a “living archive of collective wisdom and artistic brilliance.”
The former chief minister also advocated promoting regional languages like Dogri, Pahari, Gojri, Punjabi, and Shina—each a “vibrant thread” in J&K’s cultural tapestry.
Urging parents to make homes “sanctuaries” of native tongues, he said: “Let our children inherit the music of our words.” Abdullah reminded people that speaking one’s language should inspire pride, not hesitation.
