Problems Facing Kashmiri Language

Education Policy Neglect

Schools and curriculum prioritize Urdu/English; Kashmiri rarely used as the medium of instruction. Few textbooks, teacher-training programs, or Kashmiri-medium schools exist — so children grow up without strong formal exposure to their native language.

Generational Disconnect

Parents often switch to Urdu or English to give children perceived advantages. That reduces daily Kashmiri use at home — weakening natural intergenerational transmission and leaving children less fluent or unfamiliar with cultural expressions.

Digital & Media Absence

Kashmiri has little footprint on social media, streaming, apps, or educational platforms. Without digital content — videos, games, learning apps, and active communities — younger people don’t encounter Kashmiri where they spend time online.

Script Divide

Kashmiri is written in Perso-Arabic, Devanagari and sometimes Roman scripts. Multiple scripts fragment teaching, publishing and digital support — creating hurdles for standardization and widespread literacy in the language.

Government & Institutional Neglect

Although Kashmiri may have official recognition in some contexts, practical investments in curricula, teacher training, media funding and language technology remain too small. Policy without implementation keeps the language under-resourced.