Tankri, once the language of royals, is now dying in Himachal Pradesh

Tankri, once the language of royals, is now dying in Himachal Pradesh

Hindustan Times (New Delhi, India)

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January 27, 2006 | Copyright

Kullu, Jan. 27 -- "One should respect his motherland, his culture and his mother tongue because they are the givers of happiness," says the Rig Veda.

But for most people, especially in Himachal Pradesh, these words of scholarly wisdom are insignificant at best. It is evident from the manner in which Tankri, the northern state's oldest language, is dying a slow, but natural death due to poor patronage.

Originating from the ancient Sharda script of Kashmir, Tankri was the language of the royal courts in the pre-independence era.

So lamentable has been the neglect for its promotion, that the State Language, Art and Culture Department had to recently organise a 10-day workshop in Kullu to rejuvenate its essence. …

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