Indifferent Attitude of CBSE Schools Towards Dogri

Maj Gen SK Sharma (Retd.)
shiv_k_sharma@yahoo.co.in
National Language Policy was promulgated by the Central Govt in 2020. As per this, all the schools in the country are to follow 3-Language Formula under which mother tongue of a region is to be taught compulsorily in all the schools.
CBSE Schools Not Following NEP-2020
There is a general perception among senior citizens that CBSE schools in J&K are defying the national education policy. A number of students of class 8th have complained that they are not being taught Dogri in Class 9th. When the Principal of the school was approached, she politely said that CBSE does not prepare question papers in Dogri language for class 9th and onward and hence the students cannot be offered Dogri in higher classes.
Another perception that Jammu Sahodaya Complex, which is an organization of around 70 CBSE schools in the region, has decided to teach Urdu/Sanskrit as the 3rd language as per NEP-2020, disregarding the mother tongue Dogri. Though many schools are following that, however, the President of the organization amplified that there is no restriction from their side for not teaching Dogri. As per her, the number of optees for Dogri language, sometimes,are so less that it is not economical for the schools to teach Dogri as a 3rd subject.
Constitutional Status of Dogri
Dogri is the mother tongue of 30 lakh Dogras of Jammu province. It is also one of the 22 Scheduled Languages, as listed in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, thus giving it a national status. It is the official language of J&K UT too. In spite of this, CBSE decided to keep it out of their curriculum specially in the higher classes.
Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Education Minister, in all his speeches has given stress to the teaching of the mother tongue in schools. Even recently, in his speech delivered on 21st Sep 2025 in the “Think India Dakshinapatha Summit 2025″ at Chennai, he said ” For Class 1 and 2, there will be two language formula out of which one will be the mother tongue. From Class 6th to 10th, there is 3-language formula out of which one language will be mother tongue.”
It appears that CBSE schools in Jammu which also work under nose of the Cabinet Minister, are defying what he propagates in the country.
Languages Approved in CBSE
As per the Secondary School Curriculum 2025-26 issued by CBSE, there are 40 languages, including Kashmiri and Urdu which could be taught in CBSE Schools across the country. Dogri has been left out. An analysis of the 40 languages indicate that there are over 10 dialects/non-scheduled languages which have been included in the curriculum besides around 10 foreign languages like Persian, Arabic etc.
As per the Census Report of 2011, the number of Indian citizens whospeak some of the dialects/ non-scheduled languages, which have been included by CBSE, is as under:
Rai – 15,644
Sherpa – 16,012
Tamang – 20,154
Limbu – 40,835
Lepcha – 47,331
Tangkhul – 1,87,276
Bhotia – 2,29,854
All these dialects are categorized as Non-Scheduled Languages in the Constitution of India and still included in CBSE schools whereas Dogri, a Scheduled Language, spoken by over 30 lakh Dogras has been excluded.
This point has been brought to the notice of Chairman CBSE and Director (Academics) CBSE, but any action from their side is still awaited.
Decreasing Population Percentage of Dogras
In most of the states in India, the mother tongue of the region is a compulsory subject in schools. But, this is not the case for Dogri in J&K. Senior citizens of Jammu have approached the govt. a number of times for making this language as compulsory in Jammu region, but the result is yet to be seen on ground.
This discriminatory behavior of CBSE as well as the State govt. has been the main reason, besides others, for reduction in the percentage population of Dogras in J&K as well as in the country.
J&K has two major native languages viz. Kashmiri and Dogri. From the Table below, one can see that the percentage of Dogras in the country in 1971 was 0.24 which got reduced by 3 points to 0.21 by 2011 and at the same time the percentage of Kashmiris, during the same period got increased by 10 points. If this trend continues, then we are not sure as to how many Dogras will be left in the country by end of this century.
Jammu and Kashmir was flourishing as a Dogra state till 1947. Their soldiers were famous as Shivalik warriors and known for their hard core nationalist acumen. Heroic tales of General Zorawar Singh and Mian Dido used to motivate the masses. But ignoring Dogras on many fronts by the subsequent administrations besides spreading a negative narrative about them are responsible for the drastic decline of their population in the region.
Recommendations
It is the need of the hour that this nationalist community of Dogras be not allowed to die and let all of us in the union territory help it at least maintain the status quo. For this, all segments of the society, a few of which are list below, must come forward and help this community regain its valour.
Jammu Sahodaya Schools Complex: Around 70 CBSE in Jammu province, which form part of this complex should make a deliberate attempt to motivate locals and teach Dogri in all of their schools besides other languages. They should also project this case to the Regional Officer, CBSE Chandigarh and Chairman CBSE, New Delhi.
Teachers in CBSE Schools: CBSE schools must employ at least one Dogri teacher with minimum qualification as Graduation in Dogri and B.Ed.
It is worthwhile mentioning that Jammu Sanskriti School has employed two Dogri teachers, and Doon International School has also caught by employing one Dogri teacher in their schools. Local society is highly appreciable of their initiative.
Private schools under JK Board: The owners of these Jammu province-based schools must employ at least one Dogri teacher in their schools. Minimum qualification should be Graduation in Dogri.
Govt. Schools under JK Board: Govt. of J&K should train their existing General Line Teachers in the subject of Dogri. State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) has been mandated for this. As the number of schools in Jammu province is over 8,000, additional Dogri teachers must be posted at SCERT to conduct the Dogri Orientation courses so that maximum teachers become eligible for teaching the students in Dogri within one year.
Colleges and University Depts.: At least one seminar/faculty development programme/ conference in a year for any one technical subject should be conducted in Dogri. UGC and AICTE provide funding up to Rs. 2 lakh for this.
Efforts of Model Institute of Engineering and Technology (Autonomous), Jammu are praiseworthy as they are conducting anFDP (Faculty Development Program) on the topic “Exploring Artificial Intelligence through Dogri”. They got funding of Rs. 2 lakh from AICTE.
Society at Large: Dogra society should ensure that the school in which their ward is studying has a Dogri trained teacher. They should also encourage their wards to take Dogri as one of the subjects, besides speaking with their children at home in Dogri.
(The author is President, Senior Citizens SS Club, Chowadi)

The post Indifferent Attitude of CBSE Schools Towards Dogri appeared first on Daily Excelsior.

News