Kashmiri Edition of Constitution Marks Cultural and Linguistic Milestone

In a significant step towards recognising India’s linguistic heritage, the Constitution of India has been translated into the Kashmiri language for the first time. The historic edition was formally unveiled by President Droupadi Murmu on Constitution Day, November 27, and is now available on the official website of the Union Law Ministry.

What sets this Kashmiri edition apart is its distinctive presentation. The volume has been bound in red and artistically adorned with Chinar leaves and traditional Kashmiri motifs. The Chinar leaf, deeply symbolic of Kashmir’s identity, represents resilience, continuity and the timeless spirit of the region’s culture. Known locally as Bouin, the Chinar tree occupies a special place in Kashmir’s history, literature and public life, and features prominently in local arts such as papier-mâché, pottery, carpet weaving, silverwork and shawl embroidery.

According to a BBC report, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has also undertaken the geotagging of Chinar trees across the Valley to monitor their preservation and overall health.

Scholars and language experts have described the translation as a watershed moment. Although Kashmiri already has a substantial body of literary and academic translations, rendering the nation’s foundational legal document into the language is being viewed as unprecedented. Dean of the School of Arts, Languages and Literature at the university, Sheikh, noted that the project has transformative implications for linguistic confidence. When students realise that Kashmiri can effectively convey the language of law and governance — not just poetry and folklore — it fundamentally reshapes their perception of their mother tongue. The translation demonstrates that Kashmiri possesses the grammatical depth and vocabulary necessary to articulate complex constitutional ideas, enabling the language to reach beyond limited literary circles and connect with the wider population.

A senior government official told a national daily that the incorporation of constitutional, legal and administrative terminology has significantly enhanced Kashmiri’s role as a language of governance and public administration.

The initiative began in August 2023 after the National Translation Mission of the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysuru, approached Sheikh with the proposal. Drawing on his fluency in Kashmiri, Urdu and Hindi, and proficiency in Sanskrit, he assembled a multidisciplinary team comprising linguists, legal scholars and academics from his university, alongside Satish Vimal of All India Radio Srinagar and officials from the education department, to successfully complete the project.