MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): People in all parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) today mark Pahari Language Day to recognize Pahari as their indigenous language with the most common usage.
The native language, Pahari or Pahari-Pothwari, functions as the primary spoken dialect for Azad Kashmir residents who reside mainly in the Mirpur and Poonch and Muzaffarabad divisions.
Among the languages found in the region, Pahari persists because it remains the widely used communal language in its cultural context. This language displays multiple dialects and local accents because it is spoken by diverse groups of communities.
The Pahari speakers in Azad Kashmir exhibit multilingual abilities since they use Urdu and English for official purposes yet depend on Pahari as their main language for everyday communication according to the Portmir Foundation.
The language category of Pahari-Pothwari exists within Indo-Aryan linguistic family and shows cross-links with Punjabi and Hindko languages. The language exhibits its own unique patterns at both the phonological and grammatical systems.
According to research from the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Pahari operates with distinguishable tones at three possible levels between high and low and middle tones.
Due to its common usage, Pahari remains unrecognized as an official language while being absent from school curricula. The lack of institutional representation raises questions about Pahari language preservation.
UNESCO lists many Western Pahari languages, including Pahari-Pothwari, as endangered tongues within their assessment.
To numerous members of society Pahari serves as both a linguistic system and an essential connection to their cultural backgrounds and personal identity and attachments.
Everyday interactions and traditional folklore said in Pahari create a feeling that resembles the comfort one has at home.
The Pahari Language Day functions to remind everyone about the historical roots of Azad Kashmir language while highlighting its preservation value for the next generations.
