Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Declares: Every Indian Language Holds National Language Status!

Srinagar: Last Saturday, the tranquil lawns of SKICC in Srinagar transformed into a lively literary space for the second edition of the Chinar Book Festival. This event celebrates the rich tapestry of India’s languages and literature.

Organized by the National Book Trust alongside the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language, this nine-day festival, running through August 10, features close to 200 publishers. The focus is on books in English, Hindi, Urdu, Kashmiri, and other languages from around the country.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan spoke to a crowd of students, authors, and scholars, honoring Kashmir as a “sacred land of confluence.” He emphasized how literature can foster unity. “All Indian languages are national languages,” he stated, stressing that children across India should explore literature from different regions to strengthen the nation’s bond.

On the festival’s opening day, a significant moment was the launch of the Kashmiri version of “Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh: Through the Ages,” originally published in English and Hindi. Pradhan highlighted this translation as a key connection to Kashmir’s rich history.

“Translation is a national responsibility,” he said, praising author Dr. Raghubendra Tanwar and translator Brij Nath Betab. As part of expanding access to literature, ten important books will be translated into Kashmiri and Dogri next year.

This year’s festival introduced the Rajatarangini Samvad, featuring discussions about Kalhana’s ancient chronicle, examining its literary and historical significance. A National Exhibition on the Sharda Script will also showcase its history and evolution through rare manuscripts and interactive displays, allowing visitors to reconnect with their roots.

For the first time, a Gojri Translation Workshop aims to promote multilingual literature in Hindi, Urdu, Dogri, Kashmiri, Gojri, and English.

Pradhan emphasized Kashmir’s rich intellectual history, asserting, “Kashmir’s answer has never been violence—it has always been literature.” He celebrated the region’s legacy of scholars and its youth’s quest for knowledge.

Highlighting educational reforms, Pradhan noted the ongoing implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 in Jammu and Kashmir. This includes encouraging mother-tongue instruction and enhancing early childhood education in regional languages like Kashmiri, Urdu, and Punjabi.

He also announced new initiatives to expand smart classrooms, improve digital infrastructure, and boost institutions such as NITs and IITs in the region. Pradhan proposed a Library Movement to make books more accessible, especially in rural areas. “Without books, our future remains incomplete,” he stated.

Pradhan’s reflection on Kashmir included its rich heritage, home to varied intellectual traditions. “Kashmir is not just a region—it is a center of philosophy and belief,” he said, emphasizing that the festival is about more than books; it’s about shaping India’s future through knowledge.

As the festival unfolds, it serves not only to celebrate literature but also to inspire a new generation of readers and thinkers in the heart of Kashmir.

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INDIAN LANGUAGE, BOOK FESTIVAL, NATIONAL LANGUAGE, NATIONAL BOOK TRUST, DHARMENDRA PRADHAN, 'EVERY INDIAN LANGUAGE IS A NATIONAL LANGUAGE': EDUCATION MINISTER DHARMENDRA PRADHAN