V. Speech Community:
A. Speech Community
1. Identity Group (mother tongue speakers and their bilingualism)
The J&K State constitution (framed under the provision of Article 370 of Indian Constitution) recognized Dogri language as the regional official language (for Jammu region only) in the year 1956. Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi recognized it as a literary language in 1969 and the Central Government included it in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution on 22.12.2003.
The teaching of this language at M.A. level has started right from 1983. However, the teaching of this language needs constant efforts at primary level.
According to the 2001 census, about 80,00,000 people are the mother tongue speakers of Dogri. Dogri stands in a good position now when it is compared with 1991 census.
The Dogri speakers have been noted competent bilingual speakers of Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, English, Kashmiri (though only a few), besides the local dialects like Gojari, Poonchi, Mirpuri, Pahari, Bhadrawahi etc.
2. Functional group (State of bilingualism in the region)
People from various states like Orissa, Bengal, Maharashtra, Punjab, Chattishgarh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Utter Pradesh, Bihar etc. settle in this region for various purposes which includes their professional purpose and Dogri serves their functional purpose. It is observed that the students (numbering more than ten thousands) coming from the above mentioned States for their B.Ed. Courses, donot get much time to grasp the language. But the people belonging to labour class stay in the region for long period, that is to say from two to fifteen years and in some cases even for more years and they have enough time to learn the language.
3. A) Distribution of I.G. and F.G. (Distribution of Identity Group and Functional Group)
The following list contains the number of Dogri language speakers (above 1000) in the different States as per Census of 2001
States Number of Speakers (Approx.) Jammu Region of (J&K State) 7000000 Delhi 2000 Maharashtra 3000 West Bengal 1500 Punjab 3000 Uttar Pradesh 2500 Rajasthan 1000 Gujarat 1000 Karnataka 2000 Madhya Pradesh 2000 Bihar 1000 Chennai 100 Andhra Pradesh 100 Assam 100 Kerala 100 Uttaranchal 2000 Orissa 500
B. Distribution of F.G.:
The distribution of the functional group of Dogri according to the 2001 census is as follows:
Name of the first language Number of speakers speaking Dogri as second language Kashmiri 1000 Kashmiri Pandit migrated to Bhadrawhai 1500 Jammu during 1989. Their Hindi 1500 children born after that out of Oriya 100 them about 1000 speak Dogri Poonchi 2000 as their 2nd language .Out of Mirpuri 2000 200000 a few elderly also Gojari 3000 persons also speak this Punjabi 1000 language
C. Diaspora of IG:
(i) On the international level, Dogri Diaspora is found in the countries like U.S.A., U.K., Canada, France, Australia, Dubai, Libya, Nepal, Germany, Russia, Pakistan, etc.
(ii) On national level Dogri Diaspora is found in the States like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Orissa, Karnataka, Chennai, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan etc.
(iii) At the State level Dogri Diaspora is found in Kashmir valley, Ladakh, Bhaderwah, Kishtawar etc.
D. Ethnic Composition of IG and FG:
(i) The ethnic composition of Dogri identity group comprises both rural and urban population.
(ii) The ethnic composition of Dogri functional group is evidently migrant by nature.
Both the rural and urban people of the various speech communities like Oriya, Bihari, Chhatisgrahi, Nepali, Punjabi, Uttar Pradeshi, Madhya Pradeshi, Gujarati, Rajasthani etc. come to Jammu region for the purpose of labouring, business, Central Govt. services etc.
E. Language contact, code mixing, code switching:
Dogri speaking people have good language contact with different Indian language speakers and foreign language speakers:
(i) Indian Languages:
Hindi (official language of the Central Government), Chhatisgrahi, Oriya (thousands of labourers are working in different places in the region), Marathi, Gujrati, Bengali, Assameese, Punjabi and all the Southern language speakers (they come on pilgrimage to the holy Cave of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi) come and settle in this region. Now their number has gone to lakhs. They also come as visitors to Kashmir valley through Jammu region. It is but natural that they have to interact with Dogri speaking people at different walks of life. Moreover, the Dogri speaking people have also to interact with Kashmiri speaking and Bodhi speaking people some times occasionally and some times regularly as during winter season thousands of Kashmiri and Bodhi speaking people come down to Jammu and reside here for six months.
Apart from that about two lacs Kashmiri migrants (Pandits) have been living in the vicinity of Jammu city since 1989. They come across with Dogri speaking people daily.
(ii) Foreign languages:
Dogri speaking people have great deal of contact with English at all levels. It is the medium of instruction in the education institutions up to University level and also being the means of communication in the Government offices and Courts etc. plays very dominant role. This language, therefore, to a considerable extent has influenced Dogri speaking community.
(iii) Code mixing and code switching:
Code mixing from both Hindi and English can easily be noticed in Dogri language.
Code switching to English language is quite prevalent among the speakers of Dogri language. It is especially common among the educated class (in the field of education and administration including military service) as now-a-days speaking a few words or sentences in English while speaking Dogri has become a status symbol in the community.
The code mixing and code switching in Hindi can be observed in the field of business, pilgrimage, tourism, television and Hindi films.
F. (i) Convergence, (ii) Borrowing, (iii) Diffusion:
It is noticed that in Dogri, convergence with Sanskrit occurs at the morphophonemic level. The tadbhava words that come from Sanskrit develop into different forms which some times give rise to the formation of a number of Homonyms and Homophones in Dogri language. Such words are the examples of language convergence.
Examples:
Sanskrit Dogri
शिवालय /ʃīʋləjə/ शिवाला /ʃīʋla/
शिवद्वार /ʃīʋɖar/ शिवदुआला /ʃīʋɖʊala/
सरस्वती /sərəsʋəti/ सरसुती /sərsʊti/
(ii) Borrowing of vocabulary items:
Dogri language has borrowed the vocabulary items from English, Arabic and Persian. Since this is a developing language, its doors are open to acquire vocabulary items frequently from the above-mentioned languages.
(iii) Diffusion:
In Dogri language the diffusion is observed very frequently. In other words diffusion is a general tendency in this language.
G. Social Structure:
With the change of entire scenario the social structure of the Dogri speech community has undergone a considerable change.
The Dogri speech community comprises castes like Brahmin, Mahajan, Khatri, Bania, Rajput, Thakkar (sub caste of Rajput), Iron Smith, Carpenter, Potters, Jheebar (all backward classes) Megh, Doom (now Mahasha), Saraira, Chamair (all schedule castes), Gujjar, Bakrawal, Gaddis (all belong to nomadic class) and Christians.
Caste system is maintained seriously in rural as well as in urban orthodox families. The caste system is generally maintained in cases like marriage (in case of arranged marriages), cooking food (though exception is observed there too), in different rituals like performing last rites, performing various types of pujas etc. The priestly class of Brahmins perform all such rituals and pujas not only in the houses of other castes but in the houses of the non-priestly class Brahmins’ houses also.
It is observed that the priestly class of the Brahmins maintain caste system very strictly. There are only a few people in non-priestly class of the Brahmins and other castes who seriously observe caste system even if they are swayed away by the so called political leaders.
H. Institutionalization:
The Dogri speech community observes institutionalization in the cases of childbirth, anna & jalprashan ceremony, vidyarmbba muhurta, performing upanayana sansakar (only in few cases), marriage ceremonies, and shradha rituals and also performing udyapana of sankat chouth, ekadashi, poornamasi etc.
There are also two Sanskrit Institutions namely –
(i) Sh. Raghu Nath Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, Virpur, Jammu that is run by Dharmarth Trust headed by Dr. Karan Singh. In this Institute 99% students belong to Dogri speaking families. Though Sanskrit is taught in the Institute as a dominant language, Dogri and Hindi languages are taught compulsorily. This is residential Institute. The students are provided with free boarding and lodging.
(ii) Sh. Ranvir Kendriya Sanskrit Vidya Peeth, Gandi Nagar, Jammu. This Institute is run by the Central Government. Here too Dogri is being taught as an optional subject.
The Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust has started an Institute in Jammu preferably for Gojri speaking children, yet Dogri speaking children also can seek admission in the Institute.
I. Identity, Loyalty, Status, Attitudes (F.G.):
The functional groups who speak Dogri for functional purposes like trade, business, labouring, cooliage, starting small mechanical centers, workshops, and different types of other occupations in service, in private concerned houses and so on are usually found to maintain their mother tongues though they also try to utter a few sentences in Dogri. Their interaction with Dogri speaking people may be able to serve their purpose. Thus the harmony is nicely maintained.
'No doubt, as per the prevailing fashion or the curriculums, the school going children of the Dogri speech community have to opt for either English or Hindi medium of instruction. But now with the inclusion of Dogri in the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution the circumstances are adopting a new shape. The majority of parents of the School going children want their children to study ‘Dogri’ along with English and Hindi.
It is to be pointed out here that the State Government has framed a clear cut policy regarding teaching of the recognized regional languages of this State, such as Dogri (for Jammu region), Kashmiri (for Kashmir Valley’s students and Bodhi (for the students of Ladakh District) though the teaching of English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Sanskrit and Persian will also be continued as per the language policy of the State Government.
J. Differentiation and Cohesion, Language and Power (Sociopolitical Economy):
It is really regrettable that English is still dominating almost all spheres of human life, whether that is socio-political or economical and so on. Since English language is governing at the administrative level it affects the social life of the people and hence Dogri language is pushed to third position, whereas Hindi occupies the second position. At such situation Dogri cannot achieve its position as an official language of the region as it was during the regime of late Maharaja Ranvir Singh (i.e. 1856-1886 A.D.). However, as far as its status as a literary language is concerned that is a matter of pride for all the Dogra people. The literature of this language is being enriched rapidly as writers are contributing to its all genres with dedication.
Adam’s report of 1854 had clearly recommended mother tongue to be the medium of instruction at the primary level in all the Indian Schools. As already mentioned above, late Maharaja Ranvir Singh after having got modified Dogri Script i.e. Takri based “Dogre” had issued order to teach Dogri at primary level and use it in all Government offices along with Persian and newly introduced English. But Dogri had become orphan with the death of Maharaja Ranvir Singh during 1885-86 and English had started dominating by and by at all levels with the new language policy of the British Government. English became the only mean of Government sponsored private Company’s service, with the result the Indian languages ceased to gain prominence as far as livelihood was concerned. Moreover, the increasing momentum of freedom struggle also inspired the writers and poets to write in their respective language. With the result the literature of a high standard was created in all the Indian languages. Of course the Hindi language was leading in this respect. However, though Dogri language was still in its infancy before 1947, it also started stepping forward.
It is may be pointed out here that with the establishment of Dogri Sanstha in 1944, Dogri language and literature got boost to develop rapidly. In real sense of terms those days of early fifties were the days of renaissance of Dogri. Many writers of Hindi and Urdu etc. shifted over to Dogri and earned name and fame. Thereafter by and by Dogri started widening its horizon. Radio Kashmir, Jammu started broadcasting various types of programmes in Dogri. J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages also had taken up many programmes to promote Dogri in letter and spirit. A tri-monthly magazine namely Sheeraza was also started by the same, which ultimately took the shape of bi-monthly. The Academy also gives subsidy to the deserving writers to publish their books from time to time. This scheme is really very encouraging on the part of Academy. In addition to that the Academy also organizes the seminars, drama festivals, workshops etc. to encourage the writers and poets of this language. When Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi recognized Dogri in 1969, all Dogri loving people had felt encouraged and happiness. All these agencies not only helped to promote Dogri but they created job opportunities either. Meanwhile, the establishment of Dogri Department in Jammu University in 1983, gave impetus to the younger generation for their higher studies and research in Dogri. Thus the horizon of Dogri is widening day by day. Now being one of the recognized languages in the 8th schedule of Indian Constitution it can boast to compete with any major language of Indian Constitution. Its main focus is on strengthening its credibility and viability so as to make its future bright in every respect.
Copyright CIIL-India Mysore