Of late, a subtle yet noticeable shift has taken place in the language used for official press releases in Kashmir Valley.
Hindi has gradually supplanted Urdu in many government communications, including those issued by the Department of Information and Public Relations.
Even flagship government initiatives now frequently include Hindi terms, sidelining the once-dominant Urdu.
When one keenly looks at the official press statements, one finds countless examples of Hindi words appearing in official English press releases including terms like ‘Prashasan’, ‘Bhavan’, ‘Divas’, ‘Satarak’, ‘Abhiyan’, ‘Atmanirbhar’, and so on and so forth.
These terms have replaced Urdu equivalents that were once standard in such communications.
Even major government initiatives and schemes are frequently named using Hindi, further solidifying its dominance over Urdu in the region’s administrative discourse.
This shift has sparked quiet discontent among advocates of Urdu, yet there has been little vocal opposition or organized effort to counter the trend.
Cultural observers noted that individuals and organizations claiming to champion Urdu’s preservation have remained conspicuously silent.
One of the renowned linguists told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the diminishing use of Urdu in official communication reflects a deeper erosion of Kashmir’s linguistic heritage.
“The muted response from stakeholders adds to the growing concern about Urdu’s uncertain future in Valley,” said a Journalist adding that the systematic neglect of a language deeply rooted in Kashmir’s history and culture is very unfortunate. [KNT]