Need to promote Kohistani language, culture stressed

A conference, arranged here by the Gandhara Hindko Board (GHB) at the Gandhara Hindko Academy (GHA), demanded of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to take steps for promotion of the Kohistani language and culture. The demand was made through a number of resolutions passed at the end of the moot titled "Mazboot Kohistani Biradry, Mazboot Khyber Pakhtunkhwa" (A strong Kohistani Community, a strong Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).
A noted Hindko language research scholar, General Secretary of the GHB and Chief of Executive Committee of the GHA hosted and coordinated the moot. Talib Jan conducted the proceedings while known Kohistani language writer and researcher, Inamullah, presided over the event.
Chief guests were Awami National Party Member Provincial Assembly Syed Jafer Shah, and a former MPA of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, Maulana Asmatullah. A number of linguists, cultural activists and people from all walks of life attended the conference where papers were read out and speeches made to highlight various aspects of the Kohistani language and culture.
The resolutions passed by the gathering asked the government to set up a public sector body to work for the promotion of all the Kohistani languages spoken in Indus Kohistan, Swat Kohistan, Dir Kohistan, and Chitral Kohistan. Those at the moot called for implementing KP Regional Languages Authority Act passed by the provincial assembly in the year 2012. They wanted Kohistani population officially declared indigenous.
The gathering demanded establishment of the Kohistani chairs in the public sector universities and other government-funded institutes to work for promotion of the Kohistani language and culture. Arrangements were sought to introduce Kohistani language as medium of instruction at the primary level in the respective areas where it was spoken.
The conference demanded setting up of the seasonal schools in the Kohistani belt which see migration during inclement weathers, especially snowfall in the hilly areas. The gathering requested the GHB and GHA to continue supporting the Kohistani language and culture promotion efforts till the Kohistani community members were able to work on their own for the purpose. It also asked the Pashto Academy to extend support for the Kohistani literati in promoting the languages and culture.
Earlier, the conference got underway at the Sain Ahmad Ali Hall of the Hindko Academy. Inamullah, a writer and researcher, talked about the aims and objectives of the conference. He spotlighted the Kohistani language, literature, culture, social customs and history. MPA Syed Jafer Shah said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa languages were like a cluster of flowers. "These are a source of our identity and we should not forget this identity," he emphasized.
Former MPA Asmatullah said that we need to play our role in promoting our respective native languages to protect our identity. Muhammad Ziauddin said that the speakers of the Kohistani language were living in different areas of the province. He said that the GHB and GHA felt honoured by hosting the Kohistani conference in the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said the Kohistani conference had been arranged in line with the efforts of the GHB which wanted all the native languages of the province promoted. The literates said a strong will could accomplish the most difficult tasks. "The Kohistani language will develop greatly if the Kohistani people resolved to make concerted efforts for their social and economic development," he said, announcing that the next Kohistani conference would be arranged at Mingora in Swat.
Director of the Pashto Academy, University of Peshawar, Dr Nasrullah Khan Wazir said all the languages were in fact our heritage. He said efforts should be undertaken for the promotion of all the languages and cultures. Later, the literati and scholars read out papers to shed light on various aspects of the Kohistani language and culture. Shields and certificates were distributed in the last part of the conference.