Mahi Charak
mahicharak06@gmail.com
I belong to Jammu, a place where Dogri was once the natural language of daily life. It was the language spoken in homes, in neighbourhoods and during festivals. Our grandparents narrated stories in Dogri, folk songs were sung in it and emotions were expressed most honestly through it. Yet today, despite being from the heart of the Dogra land, I often notice how rarely Dogri is spoken even among Dogras themselves.
The decline of Dogri is not sudden but slow and silent. What is most worrying is that people are consciously moving away from it. Many parents no longer speak Dogri to their children. From personal observation, I have seen families in Jammu where parents understand Dogri perfectly but choose to speak only Hindi or English even at home. The reason is often the same a fear that speaking Dogri might make their child appear less educated or socially backward.
In urban areas of Jammu, this mindset is even stronger. Speaking English is associated with confidence and success while Hindi is seen as socially acceptable everywhere. Dogri, unfortunately, is pushed to the margins. Even those who speak it fluently hesitate to use it in public. Sometimes, when someone speaks Dogri openly, they are looked at differently, as if the language itself reflects a lack of sophistication. Over time, this attitude creates shame not imposed by outsiders, but by our own society.
What makes this situation more ironic is that Dogri has received official recognition. It was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution in 2003 and later declared one of the official languages of Jammu and Kashmir. Famous lines like “Khaand Mithe Log Dogre” have been proudly spoken by national leaders, including our Prime Minister. However, on the ground, these words remain symbolic. In reality, very few people choose to speak Dogri in everyday life.
The education system reflects this neglect clearly. In Jammu, Dogri is rarely taught seriously in schools. Even where it exists, it is often treated as optional and unimportant. As a student from Jammu, I have noticed that children grow up reading and writing English and Hindi fluently, but many cannot read or write even a simple sentence in Dogri. When a language is missing from classrooms, children naturally believe it has no value in the modern world.
Media and digital platforms also contribute to this cultural distance. Dogri has very little presence in mainstream television, cinema or online content. As a result, the younger generation does not see their language represented in modern spaces. Although some young writers and creators are trying to revive Dogri through social media, their efforts need stronger institutional and societal support.
The loss of Dogri would not just mean the loss of a language. It would mean losing folk traditions, oral histories, local wisdom and a cultural identity that has survived for centuries. A mother tongue carries emotions that no other language can replace.
Preserving Dogri does not mean rejecting English or Hindi. Learning multiple languages is important. But abandoning our mother tongue out of shame is not progress. True development lies in respecting our roots while moving forward.
If we want Dogri to survive, it must return to our homes first. Parents should speak it proudly with their children. Schools must teach it meaningfully. Society must stop associating Dogri with backwardness. Only then can future generations from Jammu understand, speak and feel proud of their beautiful language Dogri before it fades into silence forever.
The post Dogri Fading from Our Homes appeared first on Daily Excelsior.