Discovering Siram Language in Ramban J&K

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 Sadaket Malik

In the heart of Ramban district in Jammu and Kashmir, there lies a village about 80 kilometers away from the bustling main town. This quaint village, home to the Siram community, holds a unique treasure - the Siram language.

Nestled amidst the breathtaking landscapes of Ramban, the village is surrounded by the enchanting Assar to the east and embraces the southern beauty of the Patni Top hill station. The district's boundaries extend to Gool in the west and Banihal in the north. The village itself is perched on a sloping terrain, creating a natural division with Muslims residing on the upper side and Hindus on the lower side. Connecting the village with neighboring communities and the main town is a rugged road, linking places like Kabbi, Gandri, and Bathili.

Harmony is the essence of life in the Siram community. With a population of around 3000, the people coexist peacefully. Despite being a part of an endangered language group, Siram community members share their lives in a spirit of communal understanding.

 This language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan language family, is a distinctive part of the cultural tapestry. However, it stands at the brink of disappearing, lacking a script or written records. Though unexplored in linguistic descriptions, the language resonates with a wealth of folklore waiting to be unveiled.

Hinduism is the dominant religion for these speakers of Siram, but diversity adds richness to the community. The worship of Lord Rama and Goddess Saraswati is intertwined with belief in local deities like Raja Shank Pal and Nagni Devi. The community's occupations primarily revolve around agriculture, cultivating staples like rice and maize. Men engage in wood cutting, cattle grazing, and stone work, while women actively contribute to farming and cattle rearing.

In the present day, efforts are underway to document and preserve the Siram language. A team is diligently working on creating a brief grammatical sketch and compiling a pictorial dictionary. The ethno-linguistic profile of the community is being meticulously documented, covering various facets such as stories, narratives, folklore, transportation, games, entertainment, religion, rituals, social customs, and communicative behavior. This documentation is taking shape in the form of audio and video recordings, ensuring that the unique Siram language and its community are not lost to the winds of time.

                The language, embedded in the cultural heritage of this village, tells a story of resilience and diversity, inviting the world to appreciate the beauty that lies in the linguistic richness of our unique communities.

The Siram community lives in a village about 80 kilometers away from the main town of Ramban District in Jammu and Kashmir. The village is surrounded by Assar to the east, and it includes the hill station Patni Top to the south. The Siram community has a population of around 3000 people.

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