Kargil, February 21, 2025: The Tribal Research Institute (TRI), Ladakh, Kargil Campus marked the Silver Jubilee celebration of International Mother Language Day-2025 today at Conference Hall, Kargil Campus. 

Chairman/Chief Executive Councilor (CEC), LAHDC, Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon graced the occasion as the chief guest, while Vice Chancellor, University of Ladakh, Dr. Saket Kushwaha joined the program virtually.

Other attendees included Padma Shree awardee, Dr. Akhone Asgar Ali Basharat, State Awardee, Ghulam Ahmad Khan and various poets representing languages of Ladakh, and faculty members and students of Kargil Campus, University of Ladakh.

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The program began with a welcome address by Dr. Mehboob Ali, I/C Administration, Kargil Campus, University of Ladakh. 

Dr. Jaffar Ali Khan, Coordinator of TRI, Kargil Campus, University of Ladakh, addressed the gathering and highlighted the efforts undertaken by the Tribal Research Institute. He emphasized the importance of research in local languages and its potential impact on the future of Ladakh’s linguistic heritage.

CEC Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, in his address, congratulated Dr. Saket Kushwaha on his appointment as Vice Chancellor of the University of Ladakh.

He urged the inclusion of subjects such as Physics, Geology, and Arabic in the Kargil Campus curriculum, stressing the significance of Arabic language education, both from a religious and professional standpoint.

The CEC further requested the Vice Chancellor to address concerns related to students and unemployed youths, particularly concerning the advertising of gazetted posts.

Dr. Akhoon also drew attention to the linguistic demographics of Ladakh, citing the 2011 SECC report, which states that 62 percent of the region’s population speaks Purgi, Dardi, and Shina languages.

He called for the recognition and promotion of these languages and encouraged everyone to embrace their mother tongue. He also lauded the efforts of literary experts and poets in Kargil who serve as the flag bearers of local language preservation.

The celebration continued with a series of poetry performances by poets of different languages who recited their verses on the theme of Mother Language. 

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Konchok Paldan, Assistant Professor, TRI, Ladakh. The program proceedings were conducted by Sajjad Ali Shuja’at and Mohd Rafi, Professor of Urdu, Kargil Campus, University of Ladakh.