Pali: Historian Dr Arjun Singh Shekhawat will be awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to preserving Rajasthan's Mayad language and for writing his compositions in the same tongue.
Talking to ETV Bharat, Dr Shekhawat said there is still a long struggle for the recognition of the Rajasthani language. "And even though I am getting the prestigious award for it, the government still hasn't recognised a lot of my work done over the period of seven years," he said.
He added that even though a discussion is on about the subject and due respect is being given, all this will be fully fostered when Mayad is included in the eighth Article of the Indian Constitution. It is then the language will also be included in the competitive examinations in Rajasthan.
Talking more about his journey, Dr. Shekhawat said that he started the struggle for Mayad language from the tribal area of Pali district where he served a few years as a teacher.
"No one can walk out of their homes after 5 in the evening and no one could understand their language. It is then I started documenting them and started writing about them," he said.
Also read: Protesting farmers to take tractors from Shahjahanpur to Manesar; 10 hrs granted
Adding, he said that he wrote more than 50 compositions in Rajasthani language for which he has been given international recognition.
In Rajasthan, languages change with each mile. Even though the way of speaking changes the root language remains Rajasthani, he said.
Dr Shekhawat says it is his duty to get Rajasthani languages an identity and honour that it deserves and if that does not happen, he is also ready to go on a hunger strike.
