Taught by Aafreen Shah
Throughout the journey of this course, we will aim to immerse ourselves in conversations on and around the Kashmiri language/Kaeshir zabaan. A significant part of this course will be spent in learning and acquiring basic conversation and some writing skills with a ‘hands on’ approach. The course will take the students through various literal, cultural and social aspects of the Kashmiri language. We will also explore various questions of how language of a place constructs a place and vice versa. Alongside this, we will also look at the employment of the Kashmiri language in literature, work of a few translated authors, contemporary art forms, especially music, dance, songs etc. Furthermore, along with striving for certain vocabulary and grammar-related objectives, an outline of Kashmiri as a historical, cultural, social, and political phenomenon will be traced through class discussions, written materials, documentaries (audio and visual presentations), and occasional talks by Kashmiri authors and artists.
(Basic knowledge of Hindi/Urdu is appreciated, but not mandatory.)