Seminar: Call to include Hinkdo in K-P’s curriculum
K-P chief secretary announces Rs5m to establish Hindko Research Academy.
PESHAWAR:
At a seminar on the promotion of Hindko and other regional languages of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Chief Secretary Ghulam Dastagir announced on Saturday that Rs5 million have been allocated to set up a Hindko Research Academy in Peshawar.
Dastagir said the academy will pay way for advancements in Hindko language, adding that once functional the academy will be converted into a university.
He was speaking at the second “International Hindko Conference”, during which speakers underscored the need to include the regional languages of K-P in the curriculum.
They said that much research needs to be conducted for the advancement of Hindko but stressed that the step is necessary to preserve K-P’s rich culture and heritage. The conference was held at the Archive Library hall.
Anwarul Haq Chishti said that although Hindko is the second major language spoken in K-P, its importance has been reduced considerably due to the lack of attention by the government and domination of other languages.
Like other regional languages and vernaculars of K-P, Hindko language has never been part of the curriculum, Chisti lamented. Citing examples of China and Japan, he stressed these countries have developed so much only because their education system is in their own language. He urged parents to encourage their children to learn regional languages, including Hindko, Pushto and Urdu.
Dr Tariq Awan, professor at the Beacon House National University, Lahore said there are 56 languages spoken in Pakistan, however, a majority of them are “disappearing to the government’s inattention”. He said there are 22,608 primary schools in the province, however, only 0.36 per cent of them teach Pushto language and none teach Hindko. Moreover, in highly secondary schools Pushto language is never a mandatory subject, he said.
Dr Awan said that Hindko is considered one of the oldest languages of Pakistan and has close similarities with other languages such as Saraiki and Gojri. According to the 1998 census, 18 per cent of the people listed Hindko as their mother tongue, he added.
Ejaz Rahim, former K-P chief secretary said language is a tool that can be used for peace, stability and integration.
“Today, the youth of Peshawar speak Pushto, Urdu as well as Hindko, but the reason why Hindko remains intact to his day is because the people of Peshawar love this language,” said Rahim.
He lamented that no government in the past has promoted Hindko.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2012.
At a seminar on the promotion of Hindko and other regional languages of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Chief Secretary Ghulam Dastagir announced on Saturday that Rs5 million have been allocated to set up a Hindko Research Academy in Peshawar.
Dastagir said the academy will pay way for advancements in Hindko language, adding that once functional the academy will be converted into a university.
He was speaking at the second “International Hindko Conference”, during which speakers underscored the need to include the regional languages of K-P in the curriculum.
They said that much research needs to be conducted for the advancement of Hindko but stressed that the step is necessary to preserve K-P’s rich culture and heritage. The conference was held at the Archive Library hall.
Anwarul Haq Chishti said that although Hindko is the second major language spoken in K-P, its importance has been reduced considerably due to the lack of attention by the government and domination of other languages.
Like other regional languages and vernaculars of K-P, Hindko language has never been part of the curriculum, Chisti lamented. Citing examples of China and Japan, he stressed these countries have developed so much only because their education system is in their own language. He urged parents to encourage their children to learn regional languages, including Hindko, Pushto and Urdu.
Dr Tariq Awan, professor at the Beacon House National University, Lahore said there are 56 languages spoken in Pakistan, however, a majority of them are “disappearing to the government’s inattention”. He said there are 22,608 primary schools in the province, however, only 0.36 per cent of them teach Pushto language and none teach Hindko. Moreover, in highly secondary schools Pushto language is never a mandatory subject, he said.
Dr Awan said that Hindko is considered one of the oldest languages of Pakistan and has close similarities with other languages such as Saraiki and Gojri. According to the 1998 census, 18 per cent of the people listed Hindko as their mother tongue, he added.
Ejaz Rahim, former K-P chief secretary said language is a tool that can be used for peace, stability and integration.
“Today, the youth of Peshawar speak Pushto, Urdu as well as Hindko, but the reason why Hindko remains intact to his day is because the people of Peshawar love this language,” said Rahim.
He lamented that no government in the past has promoted Hindko.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2012.