Language and Dialects of Uttarakhand | Uttarakhand State PSC (UKPSC): Preparation - UKPSC (Uttarakhand) PDF Download

 Page 1


Language and Dialects of Uttarakhand
Hindi, English and Sanskrit are recognized languages of Uttarakhand. Hindi
is also official language of the state. Punjabi and Urdu are other two
languages spoken in Uttarakhand while former mainly in the district of
Udham Singh Nagar and later in the district of Haridwar. But the pahadi
identity is incomplete without two major dialects Kumauni and Garhwali of
the State. Many other localized dialects are prevalent mainly among tribal
groups of the state.
Kumauni and Garhwali are spoken in Kumaun and Garhwal respectively.
Both are written in Devnagri script and belong to Indo-Aryan family of
languages. They are influenced by Hindi and Sanskrit languages. With the
advent of large number of people from Rajasthan during medival period
Rajasthani also influenced these dialects.
Hindi Rajasthani Kumauni Garhwali
Mera Mero Myar Mero
Ve Vo U Vo
Uska Veko Veku Veaiko
Ghoda Ghodo Ghwad Ghwada
Apart from Rajastheni dialect, Darad dialects mainly Khas which is written in
Prakrit also has its impact on Garhwali and Kumauni dialects.
In reality Kumauni and Garhwali are dialects of same language called
Central Pahadi. During medival times the region was divided and ruled by
two different dynesties that is when the Kumaun and Garhwal got their
names. Both dialects has same grammer and dictionary, the differences found
is due to geographical realities and lack of connectivity and connect between
the two regions and hence the dialects.
Kumauni
This is spoken in Kumaun region of the state mainly in hilly areas of Kumaun
Division. According to census 2001, Kumauni is spoken by
Page 2


Language and Dialects of Uttarakhand
Hindi, English and Sanskrit are recognized languages of Uttarakhand. Hindi
is also official language of the state. Punjabi and Urdu are other two
languages spoken in Uttarakhand while former mainly in the district of
Udham Singh Nagar and later in the district of Haridwar. But the pahadi
identity is incomplete without two major dialects Kumauni and Garhwali of
the State. Many other localized dialects are prevalent mainly among tribal
groups of the state.
Kumauni and Garhwali are spoken in Kumaun and Garhwal respectively.
Both are written in Devnagri script and belong to Indo-Aryan family of
languages. They are influenced by Hindi and Sanskrit languages. With the
advent of large number of people from Rajasthan during medival period
Rajasthani also influenced these dialects.
Hindi Rajasthani Kumauni Garhwali
Mera Mero Myar Mero
Ve Vo U Vo
Uska Veko Veku Veaiko
Ghoda Ghodo Ghwad Ghwada
Apart from Rajastheni dialect, Darad dialects mainly Khas which is written in
Prakrit also has its impact on Garhwali and Kumauni dialects.
In reality Kumauni and Garhwali are dialects of same language called
Central Pahadi. During medival times the region was divided and ruled by
two different dynesties that is when the Kumaun and Garhwal got their
names. Both dialects has same grammer and dictionary, the differences found
is due to geographical realities and lack of connectivity and connect between
the two regions and hence the dialects.
Kumauni
This is spoken in Kumaun region of the state mainly in hilly areas of Kumaun
Division. According to census 2001, Kumauni is spoken by
20,07,383vpeople.Apart from Khas Prakrit, Awadhi dialect has greatest
impact over it. Various artfacts and stone carvings prior to 14
th
 century found
in the region indicate large number of Sanskrit words in this dialect.
Inscriptions of Chand rulers during 13 century AD indicate early Kumauni.
By th 18
th
 century AD Kumauni has got its present form. Commentry in
Kumauni on ‘Vridh Chanakya’ written by Pandit Rambhadra Tripathi in
1728 AD is its example. There are many branches of Kumauni dialect as
mentioned below
Askoti- spoken around Askot of Pithoragarh district. Sirali, Nepali and
Johari dialects has their impact on it.
Sirali- spoken in Sira region of Pithoragarh district.
Soryali- in Sora pargana of Pithoragarh district.
Kumaiya- spoken in Kali Kumaun region.
Gangoli- around Gangolihat in Pithoragarh district.
Danpuriya – Danpur pargana of Almora district.
Chogarkhiya- from north west of Kali Kumaun to Baramandal Pargana of
Almora district.
Khasparjiya- in Baramandal pargana of Almora district. This indicates
dominance of Khas people in Kumaun and their dialect is still called Khasiya.
Pachhai- spoken in Pali Pachhai area of Almora district. Faldkot, Ranikhet,
Dwarahat, Masi, and Chaukhutiya are centre of this dialect.
Rau-Chaubhensi- spoken in Rau and Chaubhens region of north east
Nainital district.
Apart from Kumauni, Ran dialect is prevalent in Darma, Vyas and Chaudas
region of Dharchula Tehsil in Pithoragarh, Raji in Didihat and Chamoawat
district, Tharu- Boksha dialscts in tarai regions of Nainital and Udham Singh
Nagar are important. UNESCO’s Atlas of the World Languages in Danger
designates Kumauni as language in unsafe category.
Garhwali
It is believed that Garhwali dialect has its origin in Shaurseni languages.
Maxmuller believed it to be a type of Prakrit language. Yet apart from these
languages, Sanskrit, Pali languages too have their influence over this dialect.
Garhwali too has many branches which are mentioned below.
Badhani – region between Pinder and Nandakini river is called Bandgan.
This dialect is spoken here.
Page 3


Language and Dialects of Uttarakhand
Hindi, English and Sanskrit are recognized languages of Uttarakhand. Hindi
is also official language of the state. Punjabi and Urdu are other two
languages spoken in Uttarakhand while former mainly in the district of
Udham Singh Nagar and later in the district of Haridwar. But the pahadi
identity is incomplete without two major dialects Kumauni and Garhwali of
the State. Many other localized dialects are prevalent mainly among tribal
groups of the state.
Kumauni and Garhwali are spoken in Kumaun and Garhwal respectively.
Both are written in Devnagri script and belong to Indo-Aryan family of
languages. They are influenced by Hindi and Sanskrit languages. With the
advent of large number of people from Rajasthan during medival period
Rajasthani also influenced these dialects.
Hindi Rajasthani Kumauni Garhwali
Mera Mero Myar Mero
Ve Vo U Vo
Uska Veko Veku Veaiko
Ghoda Ghodo Ghwad Ghwada
Apart from Rajastheni dialect, Darad dialects mainly Khas which is written in
Prakrit also has its impact on Garhwali and Kumauni dialects.
In reality Kumauni and Garhwali are dialects of same language called
Central Pahadi. During medival times the region was divided and ruled by
two different dynesties that is when the Kumaun and Garhwal got their
names. Both dialects has same grammer and dictionary, the differences found
is due to geographical realities and lack of connectivity and connect between
the two regions and hence the dialects.
Kumauni
This is spoken in Kumaun region of the state mainly in hilly areas of Kumaun
Division. According to census 2001, Kumauni is spoken by
20,07,383vpeople.Apart from Khas Prakrit, Awadhi dialect has greatest
impact over it. Various artfacts and stone carvings prior to 14
th
 century found
in the region indicate large number of Sanskrit words in this dialect.
Inscriptions of Chand rulers during 13 century AD indicate early Kumauni.
By th 18
th
 century AD Kumauni has got its present form. Commentry in
Kumauni on ‘Vridh Chanakya’ written by Pandit Rambhadra Tripathi in
1728 AD is its example. There are many branches of Kumauni dialect as
mentioned below
Askoti- spoken around Askot of Pithoragarh district. Sirali, Nepali and
Johari dialects has their impact on it.
Sirali- spoken in Sira region of Pithoragarh district.
Soryali- in Sora pargana of Pithoragarh district.
Kumaiya- spoken in Kali Kumaun region.
Gangoli- around Gangolihat in Pithoragarh district.
Danpuriya – Danpur pargana of Almora district.
Chogarkhiya- from north west of Kali Kumaun to Baramandal Pargana of
Almora district.
Khasparjiya- in Baramandal pargana of Almora district. This indicates
dominance of Khas people in Kumaun and their dialect is still called Khasiya.
Pachhai- spoken in Pali Pachhai area of Almora district. Faldkot, Ranikhet,
Dwarahat, Masi, and Chaukhutiya are centre of this dialect.
Rau-Chaubhensi- spoken in Rau and Chaubhens region of north east
Nainital district.
Apart from Kumauni, Ran dialect is prevalent in Darma, Vyas and Chaudas
region of Dharchula Tehsil in Pithoragarh, Raji in Didihat and Chamoawat
district, Tharu- Boksha dialscts in tarai regions of Nainital and Udham Singh
Nagar are important. UNESCO’s Atlas of the World Languages in Danger
designates Kumauni as language in unsafe category.
Garhwali
It is believed that Garhwali dialect has its origin in Shaurseni languages.
Maxmuller believed it to be a type of Prakrit language. Yet apart from these
languages, Sanskrit, Pali languages too have their influence over this dialect.
Garhwali too has many branches which are mentioned below.
Badhani – region between Pinder and Nandakini river is called Bandgan.
This dialect is spoken here.
Manjh Kumaiya- this is spoken in regions close to Kumaun region.
Kumauni dialect has heavy influence over it.
Srinagari – apart from ancient capital of Garhwal i.e. Srinagar this dialect
is spoken in and around Deval and Pauri.
Salani- spoken in Salan region.
Nagpuriya- spoken in Nagpur patti of Chamoli district.
Gangapariya- dialect spoken in Tehri Garhwal district.
Lohabya- lohabya is spoken around Gairsain, in Lohab patti and Khansan.
Rathi- Region near Kumaun mainly Dudhatoli, Vinsar, Thalisain is called
Rath and Garhwali spoken here called Rathi.
Dasolya- This region is in adjoining of Nagpur patti. Garhwali spoken in
Dasoli patti is called Dasolya.
Promotion of Sanskrit Language
For the promotion of Sanskrit education, the state of Uttarakhand has
constituted the Directorate of Sanskrit Education, Sanskrit Academy and
Sanskrit University. Sanskrit language is the ancient language of all the
languages of the world. This language contains high quality literature.
Sanskrit language is also called the mother of Aryan languages. Apart from
this, the words of this language are highly received in Indian languages as
well. The ancient Vedas of the world have been created in this language,
hence the importance of this language is still paramount. The idea of studying
cultured literature arises in its own right. In the state of Uttarakhand, Sanskrit
has got the status of second language.
In the state, 90 schools / colleges of Sanskrit education are traditionally
operated in which from the first (class 6 to class 08) to the yearly classes are
being operated. The curriculum for a suitable Sanskrit education for these
schools has been created long ago. The Directorate of Sanskrit Education and
the Sanskrit Education Council has been set up in Uttarakhand, whose
purpose is to complete the culture and planning to increase Sanskrit education
every day.