BHASHA SAGAR - JANUARY 2008

Palkar Discussion Forum posting on 9th April, 4.2008
BHASHA SAGAR – JANUARY 2008.
Sourashtra Vidya Peetam has received a copy of the First Issue of Bhasha Sagar - January 2008 from the Commissioner of Linguistic Minorities, Allahabad. It is an HLY journal not for sale but for circulation among Central/State Government Offices.
It is stated in the Journal as
Since there is no agreed script for the Sourashtra, it is not being taught in schools. The demand of recognizing Sourashtra language is still pending for want of an agreed Script for the language.
Dr.Shiva Kumar, ACLM, Southern Region has written as above based on the uttering of our Sourashtra Madhya Sabha Office bearers , I think.
Two Photographs of our Madhya Sabha people were printed in the Journal but their names are not mentioned! It is simply stated as
Hon’ ble CLM in discussion with Scholars of linguistic minorities.
In another photo it is stated as
Interaction with linguistic minorities' resource persons
Not even the name of our Community is stated!
In the Article, ‘FEDERALISM AND LANGUAGE POLICY ‘written by Mr.K.K.Sethi, former Commissioner of Linguistic Minorities, it is stated
FOUR ARTICLES OF THE CONSTITUTION PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE MINORITIES TO PRESERVE THEIR DISTINCT LANGUAGE, SCRIPT CULTURE; TO ESTABLISH AND MANAGE THEIR OWN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS; CHOICE OF LANGUAGE TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS TO THE AUTHORITIES; AND THE RIGHT TO GET THE ELEMENTARY EDUCATION IN ONE'S MOTHER TONGUE.
In the conclusion para it is stated
Of immediate concern are the languages spoken by a small number of people which are in danger of extinction. It has been said earlier that it will bear repetition that the loss of a language means loss of a cultural stream. The strength of the mankind is the ability to pass on its culture, its principles, its way of life to the next generation. Let language not be an exception. Only the application of the principles of federalism, in its fullest form, can stem the rot and ensure equal opportunities for all the citizens.

UPAMANYU.