By Fazal Khaliq
MINGORA: Speakers at a conference have demanded of the provincial government to include Pashto in curriculum for the students of nursery to grade 12 as a compulsory subject and launch a Pashto language TV channel.
The conference was organised in Mingora on Sunday by Suvastu Arts and Culture Association in connection with International Mother Language Day. Local scholars, writers, poets and language activists attended the conference in a large number.
This year theme of the International Mother Language Day is “Quality education, language(s) of instruction and learning outcomes.”
Addressing the conference, historian and linguist Pervaish Shaheen said that different elements tried to erase Pashto but they failed as it was the language of challenges. “Pashto is not only a spoken language but it is also the name of code for a person, family and tribe,” he added.
The speakers also appreciated Google for its initiative to include Pashto in its translator and condemned the provincial government’s move to exclude Pashto subject from the educational syllabus.
Seminars held in different districts to mark mother language day
ANP leader Wajid Ali Khan said that researches proved that every child learnt about 3,000 words from his mother before he was admitted to school. “This is why mother tongue is the most suitable language for child’s learning,” he added. Culture activist Usaman Ulasyar said that Pashto should not only be included in syllabus but also should be the official language of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Dr Jawad Ahmad said that Pashto literature should be translated into other languages to show the world that Pakhtuns were civilised people.
Dr Haider Ali Hamdard said that importance of mother language could be realised by the fact that people dreamt in their mother language.
The participants of the conference, through a unanimously passed resolution, demanded of provincial government to launch a Pashto language TV channel. Through another resolution, they demanded establishment of Pashto department in Swat University. They also demanded protection and conservation of archaeological sites in Swat University.
