India’s Linguistic Weapon in IIOJK: Hindi Imposed over Urdu to Erase Kashmiris’ Identity

The rising dominance of Hindi in Jammu and Kashmir is more than a linguistic shift—it’s a calculated move to erase the region’s cultural and Muslim identity.

The imposition of Hindi in official communications within Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) has sparked outrage, signaling a systematic assault on the region’s cultural and linguistic heritage. This deliberate linguistic shift, driven by the BJP-led Hindutva agenda, aims to erode Kashmir’s Muslim identity and historic ties to Urdu.

Historically, Urdu has been central to Jammu and Kashmir’s administrative, cultural, and literary domains. Today, however, government departments such as the Department of Information and Public Relations are increasingly replacing Urdu with Hindi in official documents, press releases, and naming of schemes. Terms like “Prashasan” (administration) and “Atmanirbhar” (self-reliant) have replaced traditional Urdu equivalents, marking a drastic departure from the region’s linguistic traditions.

Cultural commentators argue this linguistic overhaul is part of a broader plan to dilute the Muslim identity of IIOJK. For centuries, Urdu has been not just a language but a cultural pillar that reflects the region’s unique identity. Replacing it with Hindi—a language tied to India’s majoritarian Hindutva politics—represents a calculated move to impose cultural hegemony.

Linguistic experts warn that this change is more than a matter of vocabulary; it signifies an alarming erosion of IIOJK’s distinct heritage. One linguist, choosing anonymity due to fear of reprisal, described this shift as a “cultural erasure in the guise of administrative efficiency.” He warned of far-reaching consequences for the region’s identity, with generations losing connection to their historical roots.

This change is emblematic of a larger Hindutva project designed to marginalize minority cultures, histories, and symbols. Similar strategies have been observed across India, but the case of IIOJK is particularly insidious, as it targets a region already reeling under heavy militarization and political subjugation. The sidelining of Urdu aligns with efforts to rewrite IIOJK’s narrative, stripping it of its Islamic and cultural essence.

The people of IIOJK are witnessing more than a mere administrative adjustment—they are confronting the dismantling of their cultural autonomy. Critics emphasize that replacing Urdu with Hindi undermines the unique linguistic diversity of the region and ignores the sentiments of its people. The move, far from unifying, alienates Kashmiris further, pushing them toward cultural isolation.

This linguistic assault adds to the series of injustices inflicted on the region, from political disenfranchisement to cultural subjugation. The sidelining of Urdu is not an isolated act but a deliberate strategy to erase Jammu and Kashmir’s identity and rebrand it in the image of India’s Hindutva ideology.