In a landmark achievement for linguistic diversity and constitutional awareness, the Constitution of India has been translated into Kashmiri for the first time. This historic feat, spearheaded by the University of Kashmir, marks a watershed moment for the region and its rich linguistic heritage.
The Kashmiri translation was officially released by President Droupadi Murmu on Constitution Day, alongside translations in eight other Indian languages, including Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Punjabi, Bodo, Telugu, Odia, and Assamese. The release ceremony took place at Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi. The President released the volume in a red-bound edition decorated with Chinar leaves and traditional Kashmiri decorative art.
This initiative aims to make the foundational legal document accessible to a wider population, fostering a deeper understanding of the rights and duties enshrined within the Constitution. Experts believe that this will empower the common Kashmiri citizen by enabling them to read and comprehend the Constitution in their own language. This move is expected to significantly strengthen constitutional awareness and promote linguistic inclusion in the region.
The translation project was initiated in September 2023 and completed in March 2025. It was executed by a dedicated team from the University of Kashmir, under the guidance of the Ministry of Law, Government of India, and with support from the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore. Professor Aejaz Mohammad Sheikh, Professor, Department of Linguistics; Head, Department of Urdu; and Dean, School of Arts, Languages & Literature, coordinated the project.
The translation and review team comprised experts from the University of Kashmir and the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, highlighting a collaborative effort. Other members of the team included Afaq Aziz, Ghulam Nabi Haleem, Iftikhar Hussain Bhat, Irshad Shamsi, Khurshid Ahmad Mir, Mir Junaid Alam, Mir Mubashir Altaf, Ratan Lal Talashi, and Satish Vimal.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kashmir, Professor Nilofer Khan, lauded the team's dedication and hard work in completing this nationally significant task. She stated that bringing the Constitution into Kashmiri will greatly strengthen constitutional awareness and linguistic inclusion and commended the team for their scholarly dedication and hard work.
Professor Aejaz Mohammad Sheikh described the work as a "watershed moment" for the Kashmiri language. He emphasized that this translation enriches the language itself, providing it with the legal and intellectual vocabulary needed to translate science, law, and modern knowledge. He believes that it proves that the Kashmiri language has the grammar, lexicon, and strength to express the most complex ideas and has the ability to move Kashmiri language out of a confined literary circle, allowing it to reach the common masses.
A government official echoed this view, stating that by incorporating constitutional, legal, and administrative terminology, the translation strengthens Kashmiri's capacity to function as a language of governance and law. Linguistic experts suggest introducing the text in schools and making it available through voice-based software to reach a wider audience. The translated version is now available on the Union law ministry's website.
