Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has requested the Government of India to include Bhoti language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India. In a letter, written to Sushil Kumar Shinde, Union Home Minister, Chief Minister said that Bhoti language was common amongst the people living in Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu and Killar (Pangi) tribal belt of Chamba districts of the State. He informed that total population of Bhoti speaking community in the Himalayan States of India was over 16 lakh and the population of Bhoti speaking community in Himachal Pradesh was about 3,15,000, mostly 100 percent in tribal areas.
Chief Minister said that State Government had constituted a Committee for the introduction of Bhoti language in the schools of Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu, Mandi districts and Pangi and the State Government had already introduced Bhoti language in the schools in Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and Kullu districts.
Virbhadra Singh said that Bhoti language was one of the ancient languages spoken and written not only all over the Himalayan region but also in neighboring countries. It has its own script, rich and vast literature. It had been used in classical forms in speaking and writing in Bhutan, Nepal, Mangolia, Tibet and entire Central Asia. It was extensively used in the day to day lives of people of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttranchal, West Bengal, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, he added.
He said that just as Sanskrit was necessary to express Indian spirituality, so did Bhoti to express the feelings and aspirations of the Bhoti community inhabit the Himalayan region. He said that institutes of Higher Studies in many developed and developing countries were pursuing the study of Bhoti language and it was also taught and studied in various Universities in India and abroad.
Virbhadra Singh said that with the inclusion of Bhoti language in 8th Schedule of Constitution of India would not only get its due recognition but also fulfill the aspirations of the tribal population living in remote parts of the country.
