Languages of Erstwhile State of Jammu Kashmir (A Preliminary Study)

LANGUAGES OF ERSTWHILE STATE OF JAMMU KASHMIR (A Preliminary Study) By Dr. Mohsin Shakil University of Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK Medical College); 2012 ABSTRACT: The study aims at an estimation of active speakers of the indigenous languages of erstwhile state of Jammu Kashmir. Method adopted was the analysis of the data to identify the languages and determine percentage of the population speaking different languages by evaluating the relevant literature, data and informed input of scholars to prepare the demography charts. Observations relevant to study were made by review of literature and informed input and conclusions were drawn to determine the language demography in erstwhile state of J&K i ta ulated for sho i g Major La guages a d Per e tages of Major La guages at state and district levels. Dard Kashmiri Shina West.Pahari Dogri Pahari Rajesthani Gujari West. Tibetan Tibetan Ladakhi Balti unclassified Brushaski Other Other* 34.64% 4% 17.99% 10.41% 1.87% 1% 4.49% 23.99% 1.56% *The other languages include, Pugoli, Baderwahi, Wakhi, Khowar, Kohistani, Kundalshahi, Pashto & Punjabi 1. Introduction: State of Jammu and Kashmir was founded by Gulab Singh of Jammu initially by establishing his rule over dozens of chiefdom or pri ipalities of Aap ‘aji period, which emerged at that time in Jammu & Pir Panjal region during the last days of Mughal Empire. He did it by taking advantage of his position as a trustworthy great vassal of powerful Sikh Maharaja of Punjab. Gulab Singh realized British Military might after the defeat of Punjab by colonial power. He preferred to make them friend and also managed to extend his rule over the ancient kingdom of Kashmir by founding the state of Jammu & Kashmir as a consequence of the treaty of Amritsar. The modern state of Jammu Kashmir was a multicultural, multi ethnic and multi religious and existed as such till the First Kash ir War of 1947 et ee I dia a d Pakistan who invaded the state for different reasons. Pakistan succeeded in getting control of the Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and many other South Western districts (present Azad Kashmir, while India got control of the rest of the state. The war also resulted in hundreds of thousands civilian causalities, large-scale displacement within and outside the state and destruction of property and infra structure worth billions of rupees. The issue remained on the agenda of UN Security Council for some time with decision of right of self-determination for the people of erstwhile state through plebiscite, not implemented due to issue of compliance. UN Military Observers are still performing their duties in the region. In 1960, as the result of India China War, China captured the territories of Aksai Chin. International agencies such as the United Nations consider it a disputed territory termed parts of the erstwhile state under control of India as Indian-administered Jammu Kashmir (IAJK). The region under the control of Pakistan is labeled as Pakistan Administrated Jammu & Kashmir (PAJK), which consists of two separate administrative units namely Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB). The people of the erstwhile state of Jammu Kashmir relate to many indigenous languages by virtue of their multiethnic society. No subject specific data is available to indicate the number of active speakers and pattern of language distribution, as Census held by authorities were not Jammu Kashmir oriented. Making it difficult to evaluate changes in the number of active speakers of different languages in different areas over a period and to develop strategies for protection and preservation of these languages where situation demands. The study La guages Ja u Kash ir ai s at a esti atio of a ti e speakers of the indigenous languages at district level in Jammu Kashmir after the changes in language demography as consequence of the development in the region after 1947. 2. Methodology: 1- Collection and review of relevant literature for better understanding of the 234- 567- indigenous languages of the Jammu & Kashmir. Collection and Analysis of population data of various districts as determined by Census reports. Informed input of scholars to map subject specific information. Analysis of the available data to identify main languages and determine percentage of the population speaking different languages by evaluating the relevant literature and informed input of scholars. Prepari g hart of Major La guages Groups . Prepari g hart, Per e tages of Major La guages i Populatio i differe t districts. Prepari g The La guage De ography Chart y calculating the speakers of various languages according to population of Jammu, Kashmir Valley, Gilgit, Baltistan & Ladakh (JKGB&L). 3. Review of literature; Relevant literature reviewed for identification and better understanding of the indigenous languages, Linguistic evaluation of the indigenous languages revealed following observations relevant to study, 1- According to linguistic classification, the languages spoken in the state have 2- 3456- 789- characteristic diversity and belong to Indo-Arya , Ti et Bur a a d La guage Isolate u lassified groups. Kash ir a d, “hi a are Dardi la guages shari g eth i & li guisti s si ilarities but are distinct by virtue of some lexical differences and different area of inhabitance (8.1,8.2). Dogri is a Wester Pahari la guage (6,8.1). Michael Lothers identified discrepancy in classification of Pahari /Pothwari (Lahnda, Pahari Pothwari, and Mirpuri) and associated languages (7). Dogri and Pahari are closely related overlapping in linguistic classification & lexical similarity(6,7,8.1,8.2) Gujari, a distinct linguistic group belongs to Rajasthani but related to Dogri/Pahari by sharing the area of inhabitance and some lexical similarities. (2,3, 8.2, 8.1,2,) . Balti, Ladakhi and Tibetan are a single linguistic & ethnic group known as Tibetan, Western according to classification (4,8.1, 8.2,). Burushaski is language Isolate (unclassified) 8.2, The people of the state are generally bilingual or even trilingual in some cases 1. 4. Analysis of Population Census Reports; Observations are indicative of the language demography of Jammu Kashmir in 1941 and effects of the division of the state in subsequent census, Analysis of Population Census for linguistic data revealed. 1- On the Indian side: Ambiguity in language classification creates confusion in identification of the linguistic and ethnic groups in different censuses held in the region (10.i) 2- On the Pakistan side: The censuses reports are not very informative about languages and ethnicity as it was not enumerating the speakers of the regional languages in general; furthermore, no data about the region is available at rele a t e sites of Pakista s Federal Bureau of “tatisti s - FBS, Population Census Organization– PCO or Agricultural Census Organization – ACO (10.ii). 3- Tables given below show major linguistic groups of Jammu and Kashmir in 1941and in 1981(1,10.i). Ta le : J&K: Major Linguisti Population Groups, S.No. Languages 1 2 3 4 5 Kashmiri Punjabi (Dogri) Rajasthani (Gujari) Western Pahari Hindustani (Hindi & Urdu) Lahnda (Pothwari) Balti Ladakhi Shina (Dardic) Burushaski Tibetan 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Language Kashmiri Dogri Hindi (Gujari) , , Kashmir Province 1369537 73473 92392 170432 10631 Jammu Province 178390 1000018 187980 360870 167368 Ladakh & Baltistan 1173 453 0 5 22 Gilgit, Gilgit agency etc. 323 `1329 3369 12 507 Total % 1549460 1075273 283741 531319 178528 38.53% 26.73% 7.05% 13.21% 4.43% 8 352 230 7888 3 26 82975 184 299 114 0 145 5 133163 46420 13562 244 317 5 313 4 63040 32885 15 82993 134012 46953 84604 33132 503 2.06% 3.33% 1.16% 2.10% 0.82% 0.012% Ta le : J&K: Major Linguisti Population Groups, No. J&K Population KashmirDivision 28,06,441 2,943 Baramulla Kupwara : 2,55,310 Jammu Division Doda: 3,28,229 14,51,329 Doda, Punch Rajauri IAJK Population , Ladakh 1,476 169 Total 31,33,146 14,54,441 155 7,67,344 Ladakhi 471 1,190 70,191 Punjabi 41,181 1,21,668 200 Lahnda(Pothwari) 21 13,163 Nil Urdu 3,830 3,019 18 Balti 811 Nil Kargil 46,890 Shina (Dardic) Gurez : 12,159 Nil Dah Hanu 2858 Tibetan Srinagar: 796 Nil Leh: 3,382 (Percentages shown in grey is not the part of original tables) , 10,12,808 % 52.32 24.29 16.91 71,852 1,63,049 13,184 6,867 47,701 15,017 4,178 1.2 2.72 0.21 0.11 0.79 0.25 0.069 According to Census 1941; Kashmiri was the biggest linguistic group followed by Dogri, Pahari (Western Pahari), Gujari, Shina and Tibetan variants (10). 4- In the subsequent Censuses on the Indian side, different linguistic groups were merged or split. Contrary to the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir which identify Pahari, as one of the regional languages in its VI schedule but subsequent Census taken in 1961, 1971 and 1981 did not mention Pahari rather it was enumerated with Gujari (2)(10). 5- Ladakhi, Balti and Tibetan were enumerated separately (10.i). Districts & Population: Indian Administrated Jammu Kashmir (IAJK)(10.i). Table 3: Districts & Population: Jammu Region S.No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 District Doda Jammu Kathua Poonch Rajauri Udhampur Samba Reasi Ramban Kishtwar Total Population 691929 1588772 550084 372613 483284 743509 19961 120380 215000 15806 4801338 Table 4: Districts & Population: Kashmir Region S. No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total District Anantnag Budgam Baramulla Bandipora Ganderbal Kupwara Kulgam Pulwama Srinagar Shopian Population 1172434 629309 1169780 25714 211899 650393 13523 652607 1202447 12306 5740412 Table 5: Districts & Population: Ladakh Region S.No 1 2 Total District Leh Kargil Population 117232 119307 236539 Districts & Population: Pakistan Administrated Jammu Kashmir (PAJK) Table 6: Districts & Population: Gilgit Baltistan Region. S.No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total District Ghanche Baltistan Astore Diamer Ghizer Gilgit Hunza Nagar Population 88366 214848 71666 131925 120218 296324 60000 70000 1053347 Table 7: Districts & Population: Azad Jammu Kashmir Region S.No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total District Bagh Haveli Bhimber Kotli Mirpur Muzaffarabad Neelum Hattian Poonch Sudhnuti Population 255000 138000 302000 563000 334000 350000 171000 225000 411000 224000 2973000 (10.ii) 5. Informed Input (Comments & Approximations) Distinguished scholars provided the required information i.e., percentage of the population speaking different languages in different areas and offered comments about important related aspects. 1- The Linguistics scenario of J&K state is quite intricate and complex. The speakers of diverse language families like Indo Aryan, Dardic, and Tibeto-Burman are inhabitants of the soil, besides the speakers of isolate language like Burushaski (Nazir Dhar) (11.II). 2- Ladakhi, Balti and Purigi (Purki) belong to Tibetan language family variants to describe region-specific particularities in J&K-GB (Prof. Sadiq Wahid) (11.I) 3- Speakers of all the languages of Jammu Kashmir are found in the valley including Dogri, Gujari, Pahari, Shina, Burushaski, Tibetan and many other like Pashto & Punjabi. All of them are bilingual and speak Kashmiri (Kareem Ullah Quereshi). (11.IX) Table 8: Approximate Speakers of The Languages: Kashmir Valley (Quereshi) (11.IX) S.No. District Kashmiri Pahari Gujari Other 1 Anantnag 70% 20 - 25% 7.50% 1% 2 Budgam 81% 5% 3% 1% 3 Baramulla 61% 30- 35% 3.00% 1% 4 Bandipora 81% arrigam 5% 3% 1% 5 Ganderbal 89% 5% 5% 1% 6 Kupwara 51% % 30 - 35 % 15.00% 1% 7 Kulgam 84% 3% 2% 1% 8 Pulwama 81% 3% 5.00% 1% 9 Srinagar 96% 2% 1.00% 1% 10 Shopian 96% 3% 0.50% 1% 4. It is a rough approximation (subject to corrections/fintuning) has been made. It is however, important to keep in view the difficultly in differentiating among the type of Punjabi, Dogri and Pahari spoken in the state. People speak hybrid of the languages as these are sister languages, so one has to redraft the categorization. May be Dogri, Punjabi & Pahari as a separate category. Even Gujari is very close to all these languages. ( Luv Puri) (11.III) Table 9: Approximate Speakers of the Languages: Jammu region (Luv Puri) (11.III) S.No. District %DOGRI %GUJARI %PAHARI %KASHMIRI OTHERS 1 Jammu 80% 10% 5% 2% 8% 2 Kathua 87% 10% 3 Udhampur 85% 10% 1% 4% 4 Doda 5% 10% 40% 45% 5 Kishtwar 2% 8% 45% 45% 6 Ramban 70% 10% 10% 20% 7 Samba 96% 2% 8 Reasi 60% 20% 9 Rajauri 10% 40% 40% 10% 10 Poonch 10% 35% 50% 5% 3% 2% 20% 5. About 100,000 people speak Poguli language in Doda Kishtwar areas. (11.VIII). 6. 300,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) mainly Pundits increased the number of Kashmiri speaking population of Jammu(11.VIII).. 7. 400,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the adjoining areas of PAJK are settled in Jammu and speak Pahari (Mirpuri). Another 100,000, Punjabi-speaking community migrated to Jammu in 1947 from adjacent areas of Pakistan. Both groups are bilingual and speak Dogri. (KD MAINI). (11.VIII) Table 10: Approximate Speakers of the Languages: Jammu Region (KD Maini) S.No District Dogri Gujari 1 Jammu 2 Kathua 5% 3 Udhampur 10% 10% 4 Doda 5% 6% 5 Kishtwar 6 Ramban 7 Samba 8 Reasi 9 10 . Pahari Kashmiri Punjabi 400,000 IDPs 3 00,000 IDPs 1 00000 immigrants 15% 40% 6% 5% 20% 20% Rajauri 39% 52% Poonch 42% 51% 60% (11.VIII) 7% 6% 8. Rough estimates of the speakers of the languages in Districts of Gilgit Baltistan are provided by Izhar Hunzai, (11.iV). Table 11 : Approximate Speakers of the Languages: Gilgit Baltistan (I.Hunzai) S.No Dist/S.Dist Population Shina 1 Hunza Nagar Ghizer Gilgit Diamer Astore Ghanche Sakurdu 60,000 70000 120000 190000 10,000 30000 70000 72% 98% 98% 2 3 4 5 6 7 71666 12% Balti Burushaski 2% 35000 40000 30000 15% (11.iV) Khowar . Other 15000 Wakhi 20000 8-10% 1% Pashto 25% 2% 99% 85% Kohistani 1% 2% 9. Estimates of the speakers of the languages in Muzaffrabad Division by Dr. Khawaja A. Rehman (11.v) Table 12 : Approximate Speakers of the Languages: Muzaffarabad (Rehman) (11.v) S.No District Kashmiri Gujari Pahari Shina Other 1 Neelum 20% 10% 63% 5% 2% Kundal Shahi 2 Muzaffarabad 15% 35% 50% 3 Hattian 15% 35% 50%  Kundal Shahi language ethnic group of 4000 with 700 using it as the first language.  Other languages of Neelum include Shina (Chilasi dialect) in Phulawai and Graisi dialect in TaoBat.  Native Pashto speaking population in village Dhaki ChangNar. 10. Estimates of the speakers of the different languages in Poonch Division by Prof. Dr. Saghir Khan(11.vi) Table 13: Approximate Speakers of the Languages: Poonch (Dr. Saghir Khan) S.No District 1 Poonch 2 Sudhnuti 3 Bagh 2% 3% 95% Dhundi-Khairali 4 Haveli 5% 30% 65% Chibali   Kashmiri Gujari Pahari 6% 94% Punchi (11.vi) other 95% Punchi 5% Most of the people living in district Poonch & Sudhnuti of this division speak Punchi Pahari) Dhundi Khairali in DheerKot, rest of Bagh district Chibali. 11. Estimates of the speakers of the different languages in Mirpur Division by M.Saeed Assad (11.vii) Table 14 : Approximate Speakers of the Languages: Mirpur (Saeed Asad) S.No District Pahari 1 Mirpur 85% 2 Kotli 3 Bhimber Dogri (11.vii) Gujri other Mirpuri 10% 2% 63% Pahari / Pothwari 35% 2% 30% Mirpuri 5% 35% Punjabi 30% 6- Conclusions a) With reference to all observations made after review of relevant literature and informed input, the table 1, Census Report 1941 revisited, redrawn to improve for better understanding of language demography of the State of Jammu & Kashmir as it was in 1941. Table 15: State of Jammu Kashmir: Major Languages 1941 (Population 40,21,616.) Gilgit, S Major . Language N Group o 1 Indo Aryan Language Sub group 3 Unclassified Total % Baltistan Gilgit agency & Astore etc. 178390 1173 323 38.53 % 7888 73473 114 1000018 13562 453 63040 1329 Pahari 170432 360870 5 12 (82993) 2,06% (283741) 7.05% (181468) Pahari /Pothwari Gujari 8 82975 5 5 15494 60 84604 10752 73 53131 9 82993 92392 187980 0 3369 7.05% Balti 352 184 133163 313 4.502% Ladakhi Tibetan 230 26 299 145 46420 317 4 15 28374 1 13401 2 46953 503 Burushask i 3 0 244 32885 33132 0.82% 10631 167368 overlap W. Pahari 507 178528 4.43% & % Dardic (1634064) 40.63% Western Pahari (1606592) 39.94% Northern Lahnda Rajasthani 2 Tibeto Burman Population Western Tibet Language Isolate - Not included in Study- (33132) 0.82% 4.43% Major Language s Kashmir Jammu Province Province Kashmiri 1369537 Shina Dogri Hindustani ( Hindi & Urdu) Ladakh & 22 2.10% 26.73 % 13.21 % 2.06% 3.33% 1.16% 0.012 % b) By giving due consideration to observations made in review of literature, census reports and informed input. The Percentage of the speakers of different languages at district le el al ulated to o lude Per e tage La guage De ography Ta le for the erst hile state of Jammu Kashmir. Table 16: State of Jammu & Kashmir: Percentages of Major Languages S. No District Populatio n Kashmiri 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Anantnag Budgam Baramulla Bandipora Ganderbal Kupwara Kulgam Pulwama Srinagar Shopian Leh Kargil 1172434 629309 1169780 25714 211899 650393 13523 652607 1202447 12306 117232 119307 70% 91% 61% 91% 89% 45% 94% 91% 96% 96% Dogri 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Doda Jammu Kathua Poonch Rajauri Udhampur Samba Reasi Ramban 691929 1588772 550084 372613 483284 743509 19961 120380 215000 30% 18% 15% 10% 83% 90% 55% 70% 22 23 24 25 Kishtwar Ghanche Sakurdo Astore 15806 88366 214848 71666 45% 2% 26 27 28 29 Diamer Ghizer Gilgit HUNZA NAGAR Bagh Haveli Bhimber Kotli Mirpur Muzaffarabad 131925 120218 296324 60000 70000 255000 138000 302000 563000 334000 30 31 32 33 34 35 350000 7% 8% 1% 5% 75.00% 90% Pahari Gujari 21.50% 5% 35% 5% 5% 35% 3% 3% 2% 3% 7.50% 3% 3.00% 3% 5% 15.00% 2% 5.00% 1.00% 0.50% 0.02% 5% .4 mil 51% 52% 5% 5% 15% Shina 15% Burushaski other 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 0.50% 1.80% 2% 98% 98% 15.00% 7.00% 5.00% 42.00% 39.00% 10.00% 4% 15% 10% 45% 8% 45% 1% 3% 94% 64% 30% 63% 85% 3% 30% 5% 35% 10% 49% 35% Neelum Hattian Poonch Sudhnuti 171000 225000 411000 224000 20% 15% 14804636 Population 34.64% Kashmiri 17.99% Dogri 63% 48% 94% 95% 10% 35% 5% 4% 23.99% Pahari 10.41% Gujari Pashto Badarwai: Pugoli Punjabi Punjabi 1% 1% 1% 10% 99% 85% 2% 25% 15% 58% 57% 2% 2% 16% 8-10% 25% 1% 1% 1% 35% 2% 5% Badarwai: pog Kohistani Khowar: Khowar: Wakhi: Punjabi: 1% 5% 36 37 38 39 Significant among others Pashto 5% 98% 59% 75% 17% 42% 30% Ladakh i 4% 12% 98% 2% 5% Balti 2% 2% 1% 1% 4% Shina 1.87% Balti 1.56% Ladakhi 1% Burushaski 4.49% other KundalShahi: Significant in others Table 17: State of Jammu & Kashmir: Languages Demography Chart S.N o District Population Kashmiri 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Anantnag Budgam Baramulla Bandipora Ganderbal Kupwara Kulgam Pulwama Srinagar Shopian Leh Kargil 1172434 629309 1169780 25714 211899 650393 13523 652607 1202447 12306 117232 119307 820714 572672 713567 23400 188591 292677 12712 593783 1154349 11816 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Doda Jammu Kathua Poonch Rajauri Udhampur Samba Reasi Ramban 691929 1588772 550084 372613 483284 743509 19961 120380 215000 207579 285979 18057 21500 617112 17965 66209 150500 22 23 24 25 Kishtwar Ghanche Sakurdo Astore 15806 88366 214848 71666 7113 316 26 27 28 29 131925 120218 296324 60000 70000 255000 138000 302000 563000 334000 35 Diamer Ghizer Gilgit HUNZA NAGAR Bagh Haveli Bhimber Kotli Mirpur MuzafarAbad 350000 36 37 38 39 Neelum Hattian Poonch Sudhnoti 171000 225000 411000 224000 14804636 Population 30 31 32 33 34 Note: 1- 2- 26083 38662 7437 Dogri 34596 1191579 495076 Pahari Gujari 252073 31465 409423 1286 10595 227638 406 19578 24049 369 87933 18879 35093 771 10595 97559 270 32690 12025 60 23 34597 190033 251309 37175 998 18057 Shina Balti Lada khi Burushaski other 11714 6293 11697 257 2118 6503 135 6556 12024 61 2110 2386 26016 115099 116921 103789 111214 27504 156497 188481 74350 799 18057 21500 311368 21500 1264 7113 883 6445 87483 182622 1433 239700 88320 90600 354690 283900 7650 41400 15100 197050 33400 52500 171500 122500 3500 34200 33750 107730 108000 386340 212800 3552631 Pahari 17100 78750 20550 8960 1541813 Gujari 2663953 Dogri India Census 2001: S.No. 1 to 22 Pakistan Census 1998: S.No. 22 to 39 Badarwai: Punjabi Punjabi 2639 19235 23707 15000 700 2550 1380 105700 11260 16700 5129141 Kashmiri Pashto 4832 7435 199 129286 70928 222243 10200 29400 90600 Pashto 27504 25781 70233 5100 6900 Significant in others Pashto 5926 8550 592637 Shina 277464 Balti 30055 44448 34800 39900 Pugoli Badarwai: Kohistani Khowar: Khowar: Wakhi: Punjabi: Kundal Shahi: 3420 4500 4110 2240 232020 149203 665774 LadaBuruother Significant in khi shaski others 7- Recommendations: 1. Provisional Language Demography Chart highlights many issues related to the subject needed to be addressed by relevant professional and academic bodies by i- Further ‘esear h to Chart of J&K ake this Pro isio al La guage De ography ore a urate possi ly y joi t resear h a ross the LoC by relevant academia. ii- Review of the nomenclature and Classification of the languages of J&K for better identification of linguistic and ethnic groups. 2. Special Census of Jammu Kashmir based upon the enumeration of the indigenous languages is required. 81. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. References K. Wariko, Languages and politics in Jammu Kashmir: Issue & Perspective . Dr. R.P. Khatana, Gujari Language and Identity in Jammu and Kashmir . Grierson, George Abraham , Linguistic Survey of India . Peter C. Backstrom & Carla F. Radloff , Sociolinguistic Survey of Northern Pakistan, Languages of Northern Areas (Volume 2) Kendall D. Decke, Languages of Chitral Published by National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan and Summer Institute of Linguistics, West Eurasia Office Horsleys Green, High Wycombe, BUCKS HP14 3XL United Kingdom First published 1992 Jeremy D. Brightbill & Scott D. Turner , A Sociolinguistic Survey of the Dogri Language, Jammu and Kashmir . Michael Lothers and Laura Lothers, Pahari and Pothwari: A sociolinguistic Survey , SIL International 2010, SIL Electronic Survey Report 2010-012, April 2010. Gordon, Raymond G., Ethnologue: Languages of the World . SIL International (ed.), 2005., Fifteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: Kashmir Study Group: Distribution of Languages in Jammu Kashmir . Population Censuses: a. India: 1941. 1961, 1971, 1981, 2001. b. Pakistan:1951, 1961,1972, 1981, 1998. Resource Persons I) Prof. Sadiq Wahid: Distinguished Scholar & Teacher, Ex. Vice Chancellor and Scholar, Islamic University of Science & Technology , Avantipura, Srinagar Luv Puri: writer & journalist based in Jammu, opinion on the language Demography of Jammu II) Prof. Nazir Dhar, Department of Linguistics, University of Kashmir, Srinagar. III) Luv Puri, Journalist, Research Scholar & Writer, Jammu. IV) Izhar Hunzai: Scholars and member Syndicate, Karakorum international University , Gilgit V) Prof. Kh. Abdul Rehman: Professor of Linguistics in Degree College Muzaffarabad, Distinguished Scholar known for his work on Kundal Shahi language. VI) Prof. Dr. Sagheer Khan. (Linguistics) , Degree College Rawalkot, Research scholar and writer. VII) Mohammad Saeed Assad : Distinguished Writer and Scholar based in Mirpur. VIII) K.D. Maini. Poet, Writer and Scholar, Poonch. IX) Mian Kareem Ullah Quereshi, Poet, Writer, Scholar, Visiting Faculty, Alama Iqbal open University, Islamabad.