Ways to promote Kohistani language, culture discussed

PESHAWAR:  Linguists, researchers, literati and people from other walks of life gathered at a symposium in Behrain town of Swat district to mull over ways for promoting the Kohistani language and culture.

According to a press release, Gandhara Hindko Board, a literary and cultural organization, had arranged the programme in collaboration with Torwali Research Forum, Swat. Inamullah, Convener for Torwali Research Forum, presided over the event.

Muhammad Ziauddin, General Secretary of Gandhara Hindko Board, was the coordinator for the programme. Inamullah and other linguistics emphasized that Torwali, Gawri, Sheena, Indus Kohistani, Gawro, Chaleeso, Ashujo, Gwarbati, Dameli, Kalkoti, Dir Kohistani and Palola were the local forms of the Kohistani language.

The speakers said people living in upper Kohistan, lower Kohistan, Dir Kohistan, Swat Kohistan, Chitral Kohistan and Hazara Kohistan were basically Kohistanis. They believed the number of Kohistani speaking people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stood at two million. The speakers said preference should be given to the Kohistani unity, not the regional names of the language because unity alone could overcome the poverty, regional problems, distribution of resources and unemployment.

They said the Kohistani language should be included in next national census. The Kohistani culture should be given proper share in the cultural and literary programmes arranged in the province at the official level.

The speakers said as per earlier decision of the provincial government, Kohistani language should be included in the curriculum and steps taken to publish Kohistani syllabus from primary to inter classes.

Muhammad Ziaud Din said besides the promotion of Hindko language, Gandhara Hindko Board always took measures to promote the other native languages. He said the board arranged regional languages conferences, workshops, and published books along with magazines for the promotion of marginalized languages of the province.