Presented by Saket Sreebhushan Sahu, at a seminar organised by SAMVAD, Date: July 24th 2016, Place: Punjabi Bhawan, Ludhiana, Punjab
Introduction
Kosali is an ancient language and it is one of the five Prakrit languages existing since Vedic era along with Sanskrit. It has been put to writing since 8th-9th century.[1] However, some recent research done at Sambalpur University claims Kosali as a distinct language as a result of which the University has introduced a One year Diploma course.[2] A few schools are also teaching in Kosali medium in primary level.[3] A large number of book and magazines are published regularly in Kosali. The All India Radio and television channels are broadcasting their news and entertainment programmees in Kosali language.
Origin and Evolvement
Kosali is an Indo-Aryan language. It is been categorized under the languages of Purvi Hindi/Kosali Language Group. The languages of this group are, Awadhi, Baghelkhandi, Chattisgarhi and Kosali.[4]
Area where Kosali is used
Kosali language is the mother tongue of about 2 crores people spread over 10 contiguous districts of western Odisha and uses in their day-to-day life. A large area encompassing the western part of Odisha popularly known as Kosal region; Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Deogarh, Balangir, Sonepur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Boud, Phulbani and Northern Koraput regions; parts of Chattisgarh; Bhatri region of Bastar district, and from eastern part of Debhog, Phuljhar, Raigarh, Sarangarh to Jashpur uses Kosali as its mother tongue.[5]
The Official Status of Kosali Language
In this context we would like to mention in brief about the official status of Kosali language as below:
- In 2003 Sitakanta Mohapatra Committee constituted by the Government of India has recommended a list of 38 languages to be included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India which is under active consideration and Kosali is one of them.
- In 2012 RNI (Registrar of Newspapers for India) an autonomous institution of central government enlisted Kosali in its language list. Earlier there was a tag, Ori-Koshli (http://rni.nic.in/rni_search_statelang.asp)
- In 2013 The Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted an inter-ministerial committee to make an in-depth study of the entire gamut of the issue.
- On 1/3/2014 the CM urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to include Kosali in the 8th Schedule vide letter No UM-5/2014.[6] Again the Chief Minister of Odisha urged the Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh to include Kosali in the 8th Schedule as the Government in the centre got changed. Sri Pattnaik stated, “I would request you once again to consider the proposal expeditiously to fulfill a long standing demand of people speaking these languages”.[7]
Kosali language is the identity and insignia of the people of western Odisha. But it is facing serious neglect in development and recognization, particularly evident in giving recognization to it in Odisha. Though it is an ancient language with a vast and rich literature yet it is vulnerable to extinction without government support for development and preservation. At present Kosali speakers are demanding:
- The inclusion of Kosali in 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. So many Indian languages which are used by less population than Kosali are already enjoying the 8th Schedule status. But Kosali is still pending along with 38 other languages to get included.
- Affiliation of Kosali with Kendra Sahitya Academy. If English and Rajasthani can be affiliated with Kendra Sahitya Academy without inclusion in 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution then why Kosali is not there after repeated demands ?
- Education in Kosali Medium. If the state Govt. can start education in as many as 19 Adivasi languages of the state then what is the problem with Kosali, the second largest language of the state?
- Formation of Kosali Sahitya Academy. If Odisha can have Urdu language academy why not Kosali?
Getting recognization in the context of Kosali, depend upon several factors at policy, implementation, and governance level as well as civil society and community levels in their ability to demand for this constitutional mandate of the government. Unless clarity and conscious recognition of the extent of problems and the complexities involved with giving recognization to Kosali by the state and institutions are brought out for a national debate and planning and utilizing the available resources to strengthen the movement for achieving the recognization would remain unfulfilled. The present paper, “Kosali Language and its Relations with State and Central Politics” is written to further this national dialogue on behalf of Kosali language speakers.
BENI and Kosali Kriyanusthan Committee led by Saket Sreebhushan Sahu works for Kosali language and literature, particularly development, propagation, protection of rights of Kosali. As an editor of a Kosali magazine, organisor and activist we have witnessed several gaps in terms of policy and practice of the state and its institution. However, to build a concrete argument on these gaps and to lobby for focused interventions and policy by the State, the broader picture of Kosali with an analysis across States on giving recogization to Kosali was seen as a way forward to facilitate such a dialogue.
Primary Objectives of the Study
This paper will discuss to understand the present status, vulnerability, threats and gaps in fulfillment of demand for recognization of Kosali in Odisha. The study will progress with the following objectives:
- To understand the current status and delivery to give recognization to Kosali by the State
- To identify the gaps and challenges which currently exist for the state in giving recognization
- To enable to strengthening of a dialogue between the civil society and the state institution on policy and implementation with respect to providing recognization to Kosali.
RELATION WITH THE STATE
In Odisha, Kosali and Odia are the two major languages. Odia is getting all the patronization of the government but Kosali is not getting its due though people of western Odisha are paying tax. Rather in the history of language movement of Odisha a deliberate attempt to demolish Kosali is going on. Odia institutions and linguist are leveling Kosali as a dialect. This tradition is going on since many years even from the pre-independence era.
“Sambalpur Hiteishani” edited by Pt Nilamani Bidyaratna and patronized by the then Bamanda King, Sir Basudev Sudhal Dev, published a poem in 1891 by Madhusudan and the editor wrote a note that “Though the mother tongue of Sambalpur section is Odia but in very bad shape. At present the language of civil society has developed a bit true. But the language of lower class people is still in bad condition as before.”[8]
Many a Kosali writers have been found writing in the pre-independence era. Though there were not plenty of platforms to publications and propagations. In the pre independence era, so many Odia Magazines like Jijnansu, Paarijaat, Patna Deepika, Sankha etc have published Kosali writings. In 1944 “Sankha” edited by Dr Mayadhar Mansingh published a Kosali poem of Nakaphudi Panda titiling “Paasri Debu Kaen Na” and he was heavily criticized for that. He was criticized that a secret attempt to publish spoken language of Sambalpur region is going on.[9]
We can examine the original paper which was later on published as book titling “Kosali Bhasara Samkhipta Parichaya” by Pt. Prayagdutta Joshi. Originally it was a paper written to present at a seminar organized by Odisha Lekhak Sammukhya, at Bhubaneswar. But when Pt Joshi was presenting his paper a well known Odia writer present in the meeting stopped Pt Joshi from reading the paper and he leveled him separatist.[10]
In this book Pt Joshi has elaborately given accounts proving Kosali as an ancient, independent and rich language. He has proved that it is not a dialect of Odia and also cited instances of how Odia lobby is continuously opposing Kosali as a separate language and even he has narrated about the helplessness of leaders of western Odisha.
Institution like Odisha Sahitya Akademi also commissioning to write and publish books like “Odia Upabhasa” by Satyanarayan Rajguru (1982), “Paschim Odishara Kathita Odia Bhasa” by Gopabandhu Rath (1988), “Sambalpuri Odia Sabdakosh” by Prafulla Tripathy etc which are trying to describe Kosali as a dialect of Odia.
The geographical condition of Kosal is responsible for the torture it is receiving many a times. With an unavoidable historical situation the western part of South Kosal accepted Hindi and the eastern part accepted Odia as their medium of culture and literature. The situation was worst. Even after the acquisition by Britishers this region like a football has been once in Bengal, once in Madhya Paradesh again with Bengal and then Bihar-Odisha and finally settled with Odisha. And in this transaction what this region has beard has known to all. This happened only because we could not keep the independency of our language. And till today it is going on.
When “Koshli Bhasa Sundri” a grammar book of Kosali language was written and published by Dr Dolagobind Bishi in 1984 exhibiting the independency of Kosali language, it was opposed by Odia Journal Jhankar:
“If they will try other than this, Kosali language gets recognized as an independent language, then it is unreal and separatist mentality there is no doubt.” xxx xxx xxx “We cannot support the cause of Kosali language as an independent language.” (Jhankar Editorial July 1985)
In his book Pt Joshi has demonstrated that Kosali is not a dialect of Odia rather it is an independent language.
Kosali is a direct derivative of Sanskrit. Each and every word is enriched with deep meaning and full of life. The soulful representation of its culture and environment is its insignia and represents its independency. For example, let discuss the origin of few Kosali words:
- karlA (Bitter Melon)
The formation of the word ‘karlA’ is a very strong example to prove that the claim of Odia scholars is vague that Kosali is not a dialect of Odia and words of Kosali are not formed simply by deforming Odia words rather it supports in favour of formations of Odia from Kosali.
kArbell (Sanskrit) > kArell (Prakrit) > karelA (Hindi) > karlA (Kosali) > kaLarA (Odia)
Genealogical analysis shows two different sources of origin of the two languages; Odia and Kosali. One is from the Magadhi Prakrit and another from Ardha-Magadhi Prakrit. So there are remarkable differences between the two in the sphere of phonology, morphology, semantics and syntax.
On July 7th 2011 Dr Arjun Purohit, a non resident Kosali language lover called on Odia poet Sitakanta Mohapatra, the language commissioner, to know whether he has listed Kosali in the probable list of languages to be included in the 8th schedule which are still pending and when Dr Purohit got confirmation from him, he wrote it in ORNET Google groups expressing his delight:
I’m pleased to let you know that I was confirmed today that Koshali/Sambalpuri language has been recommended by language commission headed by Sitakanta Mohapatra to be included in the 8th Schedule. The central government has taken it under active consideration. XXX XXX XXX So it seems quite soon Odisha will have two recognized languages. About time reality is recognized!
This piece of news spread like a fire and sensitized the whole intelligentsia of western Odisha. This incident gave birth to the present Kosali language movement and to carry it forward vigorously.
On 22/7/2011 noted Odia linguist Dr Devi Prasanna Pattnaik wrote an OPED in Sambad opposing it in all aspects. His write up was more emotional than logical. If it is translated then it will be as follows:
“Why this happiness? To succeed in connecting Koshali-Sambalpuri at one place. To get recognization for Koshli-Sambalpuri as mother tongue? If recognized as an independent language to get the opportunity to create separate state. For separate literary awards?”
Further Dr Arjun Purohit wrote a rebuttal to Dr Pattnaik in series in around 3500 words. We contacted Sambad, odia daily to publish the rebuttal of Dr Purohit but they did not responded and finally, I translated the whole text of Dr Arjun Purohit into Kosali and published in BENI magazine and distributed throughout western Odisha.
Today Kosali language is enriched with many great literatures like Ramayan, Mahabharata, Srimad Bhagabat Gita, Meghduta etc. About 5 thousands authors are regularly writing in different genre of prose, poetry, drama etc. Every day, regional radio stations and private television channels are broadcasting different Kosali programmees. From 2012 the Registrar of Newspapers for India also included Kosali in its language list (earlier it was Ori-Koshli). Around 80 unregistered and 6 registered magazines and periodicals have been published in last 3 decades in Kosali. Sambalpur University is providing a PG Diploma Course in Kosali and Haldhar Avasik Vanabidyalaya, Kudopali has included 2 Kosali primers since 2012 in its curriculum.
RELATION WITH THE CENTRE
The Constitutional provisions relating to the Eighth Schedule occur in articles 344(1) and 351 of the Constitution.
Article 351 of the Constitution provides that it shall be the duty of the Union to promote the spread of the Hindi language to develop it so that it may serve as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India and to secure its enrichment by assimilating without interfering with its genius, the forms, style and expressions used in Hindustani and in the other languages of India specified in the Eighth Schedule, and by drawing, wherever necessary or desirable, for its vocabulary, primarily, on Sanskrit and secondarily on other languages. It would thus appear that the Eighth Schedule was intended to promote the progressing use of Hindi and for the enrichment and promotion of that language.
Kosali language is categoriesed under Purvi Hindi group. And it is one of the 38 languages which have been recommended by the Mohapatra Committee in 2004.
Whenever we have tried to communicate with the Union government through letter or by parliament we have got the reply that:
“The report of the Committee is under consideration in consultation with the concerned Minorities/Departments of the Central Government. A decision on the pending demand for inclusion of languages in the Eighth Schedule will be taken, inter-alia, in the light of the recommendations of the Committee and Government’s decision thereon. However, no time frame can be fixed for consideration of the demands for inclusion of more languages in Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.”
Activities for Kosali Language
Though the Kosali language movement is going on since many decades, but the movement was revived again in 2009 by a group of likeminded people including me. Since then its initiation, it is involved in submitting online memorandum to the state as well as to the centre government demanding inclusion of Kosali in 8th schedule.
Magazines were released online and offline to create the network and provide platform for Kosali movement. It becomes the mouthpiece of the Kosali language movement.
On 20/9/2011 we again wrote letter to PMO to include Kosali in 8th schedule
In 4th September 2012 Two Kosali primers for Haldhar Avasik Banbidyalaya was released and there onwards both books are included in the curriculum of the same school. The books were written by me.
In 20th January 2013 Swabhiman Divas was organized, where language lovers and writers gathered from all district of western Odisha and set the tone for the 8th schedule demand of Kosali.
On 21st Feb 2013 Matrubhasa Divas was celebrated by BENI
In September 6th 2013 Kosali Kriyanusthan Committee was formed and only a coordinator post was created and Saket Sreebhushan Sahu was appointed as the coordinator unanimously.
In September 17th to 19th2013 Kosali Kriyanusthan Committee met MPs of western Odisha at New Delhi demanding inclusion of Kosali in 8th schedule
On 5th October 2013 Saket Sreebhushan Sahu received reply letter from PMO stating an inter-ministerial committee has been constituted by the Centre Govt to look in to the gamut of the issue of languages of 8th schedule.
On December 8th 2013 Sambalpuri-Kosali Bhasa Parishad met the Governor of Odisha Sri HC Zamir regarding recognization of Kosali under the leadership of Late Shriballabha Panigrahi.
On December 27th 2013 Kosali Kriyanusthan Committee met the Chief Minister Shri Navin Pattnaik regarding Kosali.
On 21st February 2014 Matrubhasa Divas was celebrated by BENI
On 1/3/2014 the CM urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to include Kosali in the 8th Schedule vide letter No UM-5/2014
On 7th July 2014 Satrted Ghar Ghar Kosali Abhijan, a mass awareness programme by Kosali Kriyanusthan Committee for Kosali primary education
On July 11th 2014 – Kosali Kriyanusthan Committee met CM demanding Primary education in Kosali and formation of Kosali Sahitya Academy
In September and October 2014 All the MPs and MLAs wrote letter to Center government demanding affiliation of Kosali to Kendra Sahitya Academy
In August 2015 Kosali Kriyanusthan Committee submitted memorandum to Chief Minister demanding second language status to Kosali
In October 10th 2015 Kosali Kriyanusthan Committee launched signature campaign demanding primary education in Kosali
In 2016 & 2017 the movement is continuing in meetings and awareness campaign in different parts of western Odisha through magazine publication, meetings and even protest are been launched a few times.
Kosali in Parliament
The able political representatives of the region have carried the movement forward to the apex house of law making in India and raised it in the parliament. Member of Parliaments like Late Sriballabh Panigrahi for the first time discussed it in parliament. Prasanna Acharya (2008 Dec 15), Bhakta Charan Das (2009, Zero Hour), Amarnath Pradhan (2013, Oct-Nov), and Prabhas Singh(2015, Zero Hour) etc of the region have raised the issue of Kosali language in the parliament from time to time in Question Hours as well as in Zero Hours.
CONCLUSION AND POLICY SUGGESTIONS
Conclusion
After the reawakening of Kosali language in western Odisha since 2010, a kind of awareness has been found amongst the language lovers. A sense of self pride in the mass and intelligentsia have been noted. People in the region have started relating themselves to the movement and identifying themselves. Especially writers of the young age group have increased. Despite of aggressive Odianization, Kosali youths are relating themselves more to their mother tongue Kosali. Meetings, seminar and conferences have been organized and awareness programmes for mass are going on. The numbers of writers in Kosali have been increased to around 5000. Odia Media houses have started Kosali tabloids. And Kosali poetry recitations have taken centre stage for propagating Kosali movement. Now days every cultural and private government functions are keeping a special recitation session for Kosali poems.
Languages like Bodo, Dogri etc have lesser speakers than Kosali at present. The literature of Kosali has also evolved and developed to compete with the contemporary literatures. Kosali fulfills all criteria to be included in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The story of inclusion of Bodo is interesting and a similar situation may occur in future for Kosali if Odisha government will keep widening the gap of regional disparities and will not fulfill demands of Kosali.
But a few things may be noted that the coastal Odisha lobby and government are only supporting Odia. Whenever there is a move in western Odisha for Kosali, the government has tried to sabotage it. From a reliable source we learned that the Odisha government was instrumental in funding the Odia as Classical Language movement where as for Kosali it has written a letter only and since then it is silent. Although repeatedly we are demanding for rights of Kosali but the State government is inactive. Apart from this whenever a movement for Kosali has been pitched, a parallel movement for Odia is carried on to overshadow the Kosali movement in media. Odia media is also reluctant to broadcast the movement though the local newspapers publish the news. The government and its instrument like The Culture Department are instrumental in sabotaging the movement. For instance in 2014 Kosali poet Haldhar Nag was awarded Odisha Sahitya Akademy award and in the felicitation certificate instead of “Kosali” it was mentioned he was awarded for the contribution to “Odia” literature whereas Sri Nag is an uneducated poet and never written any Odia poetry. A protest was staged and finally the Depratment of Culture admits the mistake and replaced the certificate of Sri Nag. The State government is hatching such kind of mean strategy to leveled Kosali as the dialect of Odia. Further a group of writers and intellectuals are working behind the scene and supporting the State government for Odia just for a few awards and money. When Support of the local political will powers or representatives have been asked they have limited themselves to “oral promise”, “paper statement”, and maximum to “writing letters”.
Despite all these circumstances the Kosali language movement is inching. It is getting support from different corners. Regularly activities are going on in the grass-root level as well as in other platforms.
SUGGESTIONS
After studying the Kosali language movement thoroughly we can suggest that it would be prudence on the part of Indian government as well as different state governments being flexible in recognizing the complexity of linguistic diversity in India by recognizing all existing languages. A language is said to be carrier of a culture and region. A language is the insignia and identity of a race. So let all languages get their due recognizations. Kosali language movement need more support as suggested below:
- More awareness programme need to be organized for the common mass and the mass need to be sensitized about the benefits of recognization of Kosali
- Publications of more journal and books are needed teaching about the benefits of Kosali recognizations
- The lukewarm responding intelligentsia need to be reunited and sensitized over the issue
- A feeling of pride need to be inculcate in the opportunist political will powers and representatives of the region about their mother tongue Kosali
- The movement need more organized, more active to gain the desire goal
Suggestions to State
The state should grant the much required recognisation to Kosali and support it. The fear of separate Kosal state demand of western odisha people has hardly relevance today with language though Odisha is the first state in India created basing language. We apprehend that economic viability is more important today rather than linguistic identity of a region to bifurcate a new state.
Suggestions to Centre
The languages which are wrongly labeled as dialects (such as Kosali, Bhojpuri, Avadhi, Kumaoni, Garhwali, etc.) need to be paid more attention than the scheduled ones because due to modern education system they face an immediate threat of virtual extinction.
Kosali is not an isolated case. Majority of Indian languages are facing the same fate. Only a small minority of Indian languages is included in the 8th schedule. Therefore, all language activists across India need to come together to become a strong force.
We have founded an Organisation, CLEAR which is working for the cause of all categories of languages. And all likeminded people and groups may join us.
REFERENCES
[1]https://koslisahitya.wordpress.com/2016/06/07/charyagiti-first-literature-of-kosali/
Chrjyagiti:Kosali Ra Pahela Likhit Sahitya, Saket Sreebhushan Sahu, Mahak (Samaj), 14 November 2014
[2] http://suniv.ac.in/page.php?page=post-graduate [Diploma in Sambalpuri Studies]
[3] https://kddfonline.com/2012/09/04/kosli-books-released-for-school/
[4] Koshali Bhasa Ra Samkhipta Parichaya, Pt Prayagdutta Joshi, Page 26
[5] Koshali Bhasa Ra Samkhipta Parichaya, Pt Prayagdutta Joshi, Page 2
[8] Sambalpur Hiteishani edited by Pt Nilamani Bidyaratna Issue: 3rd Vol: 1500
[9] Paschim Odisha Ra Geeti Kabita, Shasanka Sekhar Panda, Grantha Prabesh
[10] Koshali Bhasa Ra Samkhipta Parichaya, Pt Prayagdutta Joshi, Prakkathan