VoM News Kashmiri – A New Kashmiri Language Website Launched by Voice Of Masses After Successfull Urdu Rollout

VoM News Kashmiri – A New Kashmiri Language Website Launched by Voice Of Masses After Successfull Urdu Rollout

DODA, APRIL 03: VoM News has launched a dedicated Kashmiri-language news platform, marking a significant step toward expanding regional journalism and strengthening the digital presence of the Kashmiri language.

The new platform, VoM News Kashmiri, will deliver news, reports, and analysis in Kashmiri, making content more accessible to native speakers. Available at kashmiri.vomnews.in, the initiative aims to ensure timely and reliable information reaches audiences in their mother tongue while reflecting the region’s linguistic diversity.

Language, Identity and Digital Space

Kashmiri, locally known as “Koshur,” is among the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India and is spoken by over seven million people. Part of the Indo-Aryan language family, it has evolved through centuries, shaped by influences from Sanskrit, Persian and Urdu.

Historically written in the Sharada script, the language is now officially recognised in the Perso-Arabic script by institutions like the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages. In 2020, it was granted official language status in the Union Territory alongside Dogri, Hindi, Urdu and English.

Its literary and spiritual richness is deeply rooted in the works of revered figures such as Lal Ded and Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani, whose writings continue to shape the cultural identity of Kashmir.

Challenges to the Language

Despite its legacy, Kashmiri faces mounting challenges. Rapid urbanisation, migration, and the growing dominance of Urdu and English in education and daily life have reduced its everyday use, particularly among younger generations.

Its limited digital footprint, combined with fewer educational resources and declining intergenerational transmission, has further weakened its position.

Bridging the Gap Through Media

With this new initiative, VoM News is attempting to address that gap. The Kashmiri platform will cover a wide range of subjects, including politics, society, education, health, sports and culture, with a focus on community-driven storytelling.

Editor-in-Chief Dil Bar Irshad said languages survive only when they are actively spoken. Preserving Kashmiri, he noted, is not just about saving words but about sustaining a distinct cultural worldview.

He pointed out that Kashmiri exists in multiple dialects. The form spoken in the Kashmir Valley differs from that of the Chenab Valley, with further variations in areas such as Doda and Bhaderwah. Even within the Valley, pronunciation and expression shift from place to place.

Irshad said the platform aims to bring these variations together, creating an inclusive space where linguistic diversity is recognised and preserved. He added that collaboration with the public, scholars and language experts would be key to strengthening the initiative.

Building on Urdu Platform Success

The Kashmiri-language platform builds on the success of VoM News’ Urdu service, launched on August 25, 2025, which saw strong engagement, particularly in the Chenab Valley.

At the time, GRO Asif Iqbal had credited audience feedback for driving the expansion, while Social Media Head Ashiq Butt highlighted Urdu’s reach as a widely understood language, and also calls for the public cooperation in making this attempt sucessfull. The daily segment “Urdu Headlines of the Day” also gained steady viewership.

A Step Toward Cultural Preservation

Founded in 2015, VoM News has grown into a widely followed digital platform with strong grassroots connections across Jammu and Kashmir. With the launch of its Kashmiri service, it reinforces its commitment to inclusive journalism while contributing to the preservation of regional languages.

Looking Ahead

The organisation plans to expand further into other regional languages, including Dogri and Pahari, as resources and accessibility improve—continuing its broader effort to make journalism more inclusive and locally rooted.