In a major initiative for the promotion of Garhwali language, the Department of Culture here would publish a comprehensive dictionary of the language. This dictionary will have Hindi and English meanings of the Garhwali words.
On the initiative of the Garhwal Sabha, a team of authors led by eminent Garhwali scholar Achalanand Jakhmola and BP Nautiyal sourced Garhwali words spoken in the Pauri, Tehri, Chamoli, Srinagar and other areas of the Garhwal hills and put them in a most comprehensive lexicon of the language.
The work was sent for approval to the experts of the HN Bahuguna University Srinagar. The expert committee of the university recently approved the text; in his report the Chairman of committee and head of Department of Sanskrit department Vinnet Ghildiyal said that the purpose of the document was to bring forward different dimensions of Garhwali community and help both educated and uneducated people of the area.
Vice-Chancellor of the University SK Singh sent the endorsed document to the Directorate of Culture which has taken up the task of printing the dictionary.
The president of Garhwal Sabha Roshan Dhasmana told The Pioneer that 32,000 words of Garhwali language spoken in different parts of the Garhwal hills are compiled in 767 pages of the dictionary.
He said that the work was very comprehensive and it would help tourists, scholars, students, people of Garhwal and those interested in the language. The Director Culture Beena Bhatt told The Pioneer that the department has earmarked a budget of Rupees 10 lakh for the dictionary and the process of printing would be completed before March31. She said the dictionary will help in promoting the language which is spoken in large parts of the hill State.