FLI collaborated with the Initiative for People in Need (IPN), one of its partner organizations from the northern Pakistan to organize an essay writing competition in Indus Kohistani language community in Patan area of Kohistan on May 30, 2023. The activity was aimed at involving the youth in the language development process and making the young generation aware of the importance of using their native language for literature development. This was the first activity of its kind when the Indus Kohistani youth participated in a competition, held for writing their native language. In total, 26 students of Grade 10 from five schools, both private and public participated in the contest to write essays in their native language. The competition was based on spelling correctly, fluency and understanding of writing rules. The judges panel included Dr. HA Faizy and Molana Atif Ahmad Patanpuri who evaluated the efforts of participants. Both the judges are researchers of their language. Distinguished writers and literary persons from the Indus Kohistani group got the opportunity to speak to the youth regarding the language and literature. The office bearers of IPN appreciated the efforts of young people who showed their interest to write their native language. They asked the participants to use their language on social media and to motivate people in their circle to do so. Later, awards were distributed among high performers of the contest.

The Indus Kohistani language researchers have recently resolved some of the orthography issues hindering their language. People working with IPN are constantly pursuing the goal of strengthening their language in literature development.

Indus Kohistani is an endangered Dardic language of the Indo-Aryan family, spoken by about 400,000 persons according to the census of 2017. It is mainly spoken in the Bankad, Ranolia, Dubair, Jijal, Pattan, Kayal areas of district Kohistan lower and Seo and Kandia areas of district Kohistan Upper, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa.

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FLI collaborated with Idara Baraye Taleem wa Taraqi-IBT, a civil society organization, working for the the promotion and development of Torwali language to organize a ‘Yarak” (session) with Torwali community based in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The event was attended by Torwali youth, Students, Torwali notables from Pindi/Islamabad, Torwali business men and Torwali poets and singers. The primary aim of the session was to motivate and mobilise the Torwali community regarding revitalization of Torwali language and reconnecting them with their culture while living in urban area of the country.

The participants were briefed about the purpose of holding the event while issues relating to language, identity, and the way forward were also part of the discussion. The participants also expressed their views about the holding of the event and thanked both IBT and FLI for providing this opportunity for them. They also vowed to hold such events in the future. Torwali books published by IBT were also distributed among the participants.

The event ended with Torwali music where different genres of Torwali music were played both traditional and modern. The audience were overjoyed by the live music which was first of its kind in Pindi/Islamabad. More the 70 people representing all age groups attended the event.

FLI supported Dameli language group, living in Karachi to get together for a cultural festival aiming to reconnect them with their language and culture. The event, ‘Jashn-e-Daman’, or the Festival of Dameli People was organized under the auspices of the Anjuman Taraqi Damyan (ATD), the newly established organization by the migrant Dameli speakers in the city. ATD has been founded to work for strengthening of their language as the Dameli speakers in Karachi are feared to break away from their language. More than 200 people attended the event. Earlier, a tournament of traditional games of Dameli culture was held at Secretariat Ground in Norther Nazimabad featuring native games like Khosal, Chemtaekh, Kelimastrang, Pilat, Shel, Danda Goli, etc. which were participated by almost age groups of the community, many of young Dameli speakers were participating in their traditional games for the first time in their life.

The participants were initially briefed about the importance of revitalization of their mother language while living out of their native place. Few speeches delivered in their language. They were also enlightened of the language development work and introduced to the publications developed so far in their language. At the end, a poetry session was organized which was the most liked and appreciated item of the festival. A dozen of Dameli poets who came from various parts of the city expressed themselves in their language and entertained the crowed. Although, all items of the festival were new to the participants in the metropolitan city but poetry session in Dameli was much loved by the audience.

The purpose of the event was to relink Dameli migrants in the city with their language and culture. FLI has been supporting this kind of initiatives as the migrant people are prone to language shift due to being influenced by the major languages and the community people being out of their native environment. We hope that the Dameli group would continue to engage in language and culture related activities in future and this event would not be the last one but would play a role of the starter.

FLI provided support to Shina Migrant community memebers living in Rawalpindi and Islamabad to come together and celebrate their culture last weekend. More than a thousand people, including families participated in the event. Participants danced to the tunes of their language. They spoke for revival of their language by using it at home while living out of their native place, they delivered speeches in their language.

The main objective of this event was to organize the migrant people of Shina community living in a urban areas and motivate them to maintain and continue their language and culture so that they stay connected with their identity.

FLI helped Shina Bayak, the newly formed organization aiming to revive Shina language in urban areas to organize this event. The participants were students, professionals, and elders of community. Youth from seven Shina-speaking districts in Gilgit-Baltistan received praise from the audience for their traditional songs and dances. The traditional dance chain started from Diamer district and ended by reaching Panyal Valley. The audience applauded all the performers heartily. The different segments the different speakers elaborated the importance of maintaining language and culture while residing out of their native place. The chief guest of the event, Major General (R) Naseem Baig applauded the cultural diversity of GB and praised the people to maintain their language and culture.

All the participants presented a joint cultural dance of GB. FLI and other organizers were appreciated for their support to organize such giant event. They also asked for such events to be held on annual basis.