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Gojri
Spoken in	Pakistan, India
Total speakers	0.7 million (1997)
Language family	Indo-European Indo-Iranian Indo-Aryan Central Indo-Aryan Rajasthani Gojri; ; ; ; ;
Language codes
ISO 639-1	None
ISO 639-2	raj
ISO 639-3	gju
	Note: This page may contain IPA phonetic symbols in Unicode.

Gojri, also known as Gujari is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Gujjars of Northern-Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. It is classified as a form or dialect of Rajasthani by the linguists.^[1]^[2]

The language is mainly spoken in the Punjab provinces of Pakistan and India as well as in Kashmir. It is most closely related to Marwari and Gujarati. The original Gujari is still spoken by Gujjars of Himachal, mainly in Kangra District.

The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has already recognized Gojri by including it into sixth scheduled of the constitution.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] History

Gojri is an offshoot of Indo-Aryan Group of languages, and during the dawn of Sanskrit and Persian poetry and prose in the Indian sub-continent several noted poets and Sufi saints used Gojri to spread their message. Noted poet-musician Hazrat Amir Khusro formally made mention Gojri language in the list of eighteen Indian languages of his time. Researchers and historians are of considered opinion that Gojri language is the mother of Rajasthani, Gujarati, Urdu and Haryanvi languages^{[citation needed]}. According to well researched document the poets and saints who used this language to spread their message were: Saint Noor-ud-Din; Sat Guru (1094 AD); Amir Shah Miran Ji (1494 AD); Shah Bhajan (1397-1508 AD); Qazi Mehmood Daryaee (1419-1545 AD); Ali Jevan Gham Dhani (1565 AD); Burhan–ud-Din Janam (1572 AD); Khub Mahammad Chashti (1539-1614 AD); Adil Shah Sani Jagat Guru (1411 AD); Qutab Shah (1556-1611 AD); Mulana Afzal Pani Patti (1625 AD); Amin Gujrati (1657 AD) Miran Ji Hashmi (1688 AD) etc. These poets and saints known all over India for their unique socio-cultural fraternity used Gojri in their verses to communicate and spread the message of brotherhood, peace and secularism.

As it continues to be a significant language in the subcontinent, Gojri has richly contributed to literary traditions and treasure in the forms of Mathnavis, prose, folklore and religious literature.

Gojri is being widely spoken and is in fact mother tongue of over 20 Million people residing in various parts of India particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pardesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujrat and Uttaranchal.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Literature and Communications

Internationally noted linguistic researcher Sir G. A. Gareirson, while analysing various languages of India, has written a full volume on the Gojri language. In his work Sir Garreirson has accepted and outlined universal influence of Gojri and its impact on other Indian languages. Oxford University compiled the first ever grammar of the Gojri language in 1905. The Linguistic Survey of India has surveyed various aspects of Gojri Language and its influence on other languages. In its research project, the Linguistic Survey of India has described Gojri as one of the main languages instrumental in developing and flourishing other languages. The Central Institute of Indian Language Mysoor Karnatika, under Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, has published various books on the linguistic aspect of Gojri language.

[edit] Institutions working for Gojri

The All India Radio and Doordarshan Kendra are already running various Gojri programmes. The Radio Kashmir Jammu, Srinagar, Poonch in India and Seven Radio Stations of Pakistan and PTV have since long been airing Gojri programmes and news bulletins which has wide acceptance across the state of Jammu and Kashmir. A large number of Gojri books have been published in various in various subjects which include encyclopedias, dictionaries, grammar, poetry, prose, flora and fauna, folklore, art and architecture, agriculture, sociology and research documents. The National Academy of Letters, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi has also recognised Gojri as one of the major Indian languages for its prestigious National Award, Bhasha Samman and other programmes. The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Arts, Culture and Languages has a well established Gojri Department in its Central Office which is in operation for last 30 years. Hundreds of books in Gojri, dictionaries and other research works have been published by this institutasion and organised hundreds of Seminar, conference etc. for the development of Gojri Language. Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education made curriculum in Gojri up to Middle Standard for Teaching Gojri in Schools. The University of Jammu Council has also approved the opening of Gojri Research Centre in Jammu and University of Kashmir have awarded several Doctorate Degrees on completing research projects on Gojri. In Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, the Gojri Academy has been established and Post Graduate Studies Department has been set up in various Universities, Regional Research Centers.

Organizations working for Gojri:

Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation Poonch
Gujjar Desh Charitable Trust Jammu
Anjmun Gujjran Srinagar
Jammu and Kashmir Anjuman Taraqi Gojri Adab Rajouri
Bhartya Gujjar Pareshad Uatter Pardesh.
Anjuman Gojri Zuban-o-Adab Tral Kashmir
Organisation of Himalyan Gujjars Poonch
Adbi Sangat Wangat Kashmir
Adbi Majlis Gojri Jammu
Sarwari Memorial Gojri Society Jammu
Gojri Dramatic Club Jammu
Gujjar Writers Association Uri Baramulla.
Gojri Anjumun Badgam
Gujjar Manch Kathua
Bazm-i-Adab Kalakote Rajouri
Gojri Development Center Karnah Kupwara

[edit] Demographics

The communities that speak Gojri as second language include:^{[citation needed]}

Muslim Jats of Jammu and Kashmir
Backward classes (Muslims) of Poonch/Rajouri/Udhampur/Doda/Baramulla/Kupwara
Gaddi Tribe of Kashmir
Mir and Qurieshi Tribe of Poonch and Rajouri Districts in India
Pakhtoons
Hazarwi Tribes
Peer Panchal Tribes
Bakerwals
Ajhries
Paharis (Musilms)
Some Dogri Speaking People of Udhampur
Some Kashmiri Speaking people of Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Baramulla, and Kupwara
Punjabis of POONCH & RAJOURI
Hindko Speaking

[edit] References

^ Gojri And Its Relationship With Rajasthani, Etc.
^ Dr. R.P. Khatana. "Gujari Language and Identity in Jammu and Kashmir". Kashmir News Network: Language Section (koshur.org). http://www.koshur.org/Linguistic/5.html. Retrieved 2007-05-31.

[edit] External links

Dr. R.P. Khatana. Gujari Language and Identity in Jammu and Kashmir.

[0] Gojri And Its Relationship With Rajasthani, Etc.

[1] Dr. R.P. Khatana. "Gujari Language and Identity in Jammu and Kashmir". Kashmir News Network: Language Section (koshur.org). http://www.koshur.org/Linguistic/5.html. Retrieved 2007-05-31.

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