Minister for Cooperatives and Ladakh Affairs, Chering Dorjay today said the inclusion of Bhoti language will boost the morale of the Ladakhi people and it will be a real tribute to the Rinpoche.The Minister said this during a conference on “Buddhism in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and significance of Bhoti Language” convened on the occasion of Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Birth Centenary Celebrations here.The conference was organized by Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association (HBCA), Delhi to pitch their demand for inclusion of Bhoti language in the 8th Schedule of Indian Constitution.The programme was organized in collaboration with the Department of Buddhist Studies, Jammu University, Jammu Kashmir Study Centre, Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Society Paddar, All Ladakh Students Association Jammu, All Zanskar Students Association Jammu and All Paddar Students Association.Appreciating the efforts of HBCA for organizing the event, the Minister said that such events bring Ladakhi people more close to their culture especially their native language, Bhtoi and they get a chance to explore their creativity and innovations.
Terming overall development of Ladakh region as the top priority of government, Chering Dorjay said the government has taken various initiatives to give recognition to the Bhoti language and ensure that people living in the area get every basic facility so that they don’t face any inconvenience.He appreciated the efforts of Rinpoche for promotion, spread of Bhoti language and informing people about the importance of education in the Ladakh region. Bhoti language is used not only by Buddhist community but also it is the language of all the communities of Ladakh, he added.He stressed on inclusion of the language in 8th Schedule of the Constitution as it is spoken in Central Asian countries, throughout the Himalayan belt from Ladakh to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
He said that Bhoti is the symbol of unity that binds the people of the Himalayan region as it performs the role of lingua franca for all concerned communities.He further said that Bhoti language has its own script and it has been included in various Universities, Colleges, Schools and in Buddhist studies as it has a rich literature in all important fields such as medicine, architecture, arts, astronomy, astrology, music, dance, drama, philosophy, tantric, yoga, meditation and metaphysics, thus fulfilling all the criteria for recognition in 8th Schedule of Indian constitution.Minister of State for Transport and R&B, Sunil Kumar Sharma today said that Kushok Bakula Rinpoche was the great Leader, Ambassador and a prominent Politician which had delivered his speech in Bhoti language in Jammu and Kashmir legislative Assembly as Rinpoche was also working for its recognition.He said the state government and the Centre are very keen and taking steps in giving recognition to the Bhoti language and assured that every possible step would be taken in giving recognition to this language.He further said the youth of our state should follow the teachings of Rinpoche as he was not working for only a particular region or religion, but for the welfare of humanity at large.