The folk languages of Uttarakhand, Garhwali, Kumaoni and Jaunsari, will be part of the school curriculum. State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has prepared the curriculum in this regard. In the first phase, text books related to Garhwali, Kumaoni and Jaunsari folk languages are being prepared. Later, other folk languages will also be included in a phased manner. Director Vandana Garbyal said this at the conclusion of a five-day workshop at the Director Academic Research and Training Institute located in Nanurkheda on Saturday. He said that the folk languages of Uttarakhand are a part of the cultural heritage here.
The National Education Policy 2020 talks about the mother tongue as the medium of instruction for teaching and learning to children at the basic level. In this context, text books are being prepared for classes one to five in the first phase. State level curriculum has been organized on this.
Books will connect children with their folk languages
SCERT Additional Director Ajay Kumar Naudiyal said that including text books in folk languages will give children an opportunity to connect with their cultural roots. This will also develop the literary talent of the students. Expressing concern about the extinction of folk languages, he said that these books will be helpful in connecting children with their folk languages. Joint Director Asha Rani Panuli said that having folk language based text books as part of the curriculum will develop cultural sensitivity in children. They will gain clarity in expressing their thoughts in their mother tongue. Assistant Director Dr. Krishnanand Bijlwan said that the text content of the book should be attractive and interesting.
As a lecturer in the workshop, Dr. Nandkishore Hatwal threw light on the nuances of text book writing for mother tongue teaching. Said that the book should be written according to child psychology. Workshop coordinator Dr. Shakti Prasad Simalti and co-coordinator Sohan Singh Negi said that through these text books, the enthusiasm for writing in the mother tongue will increase among the children.
These authors are writing textbooks in three folk languages
Dr. Umesh Chamola as an expert in Garhwali language, Dr. Deepak Mehta for Kumaoni, Surendra Aryan for Jaunsari are contributing to write folk language based books. Dr. Avnish Uniyal, Sunil Bhatt, Gopal Ghughatyal, Dr. Alok Prabha Pandey and Sohan Singh Negi are working as coordinators for writing class-wise books. The group of writers of Garhwali language includes Girish Sundriyal, Dharmendra Negi, Sangeeta Panwar and Seema Sharma, the group of writers of Kumaoni language includes Gopal Singh Gaida, Rajni Rawat, Dr. Deepak Mehta, Dr. Alok Prabha and Balwant Singh Negi. Mahavir Singh Kaleta, Hemlata Nautiyal, Mangal Ram Chilwan, Chatar Singh Chauhan and Dinesh Rawat contributed to the Jaunsari language writing circle.
