First-Ever Poetry Anthology Published in Kalkoti Language  

Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) has announced the publication of the first-ever poetry anthology in the Kalkoti language. The book was unveiled yesterday in a ceremony held in Kalkot village, Upper Dir, attended by over 100 participants including poets, educators, elders, youth, and cultural advocates.

Kalkoti, a Dardic language spoken by approximately 15,000 people in the Kalkot area of Upper Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, has long existed primarily in oral form. This anthology marks the first time the community’s poetic expressions—its emotions, landscapes, and traditions—have been captured in written form.

The journey began when local researchers approached FLI with a vision to develop their language. With FLI’s support in training and mentorship, the community established the Kalkoti Community Welfare Organization (KCWO), dedicated to linguistic and cultural development.

Together, they crafted a writing system for Kalkoti and launched a year-long initiative to nurture poetic expression. The newly published anthology is the culmination of this creative and collaborative effort.

FLI congratulates the Kalkoti community on this remarkable achievement and reaffirms its commitment to supporting Pakistan’s indigenous languages.