Anurag Singh Thakur Calls for Collective Efforts to Preserve Kinnaur’s Language and Culture

March 1, 2026 | Himachal Pradesh: Former Union Minister and MP from Hamirpur, Anurag Singh Thakur, attended the annual event “Toshim” organized by the Delhi Kinnaur Students Association (DKSA) in New Delhi as the Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering, he emphasized the need for collective efforts to preserve and promote Kinnaur’s rich culture, language, and literature.

Thakur said Kinnaur’s heritage, history, and traditional attire are admired globally. “If Himachal is Devbhoomi, then Kinnaur is its crown jewel,” he remarked, appreciating DKSA’s four-decade-long efforts in strengthening cultural bonds and empowering youth.

Highlighting the Centre’s Vibrant Villages Programme, he stated that 75 villages of Himachal Pradesh have been included under the scheme, of which 55 are in Kinnaur. Tourism infrastructure is being developed in villages like Nako and Leo, while Chitkul on the Indo-Tibetan border has emerged as a focal point under the strategy. He stressed that border villages should be viewed as “India’s first villages” rather than the last.

Referring to Kinnauri language and oral traditions, Thakur expressed concern that the language is listed under UNESCO’s endangered category, with only 70,000–84,000 speakers remaining. “The loss of Kinnauri language and culture would not just be Kinnaur’s loss, but a loss for Himachal, India, and our broader civilizational heritage,” he said, assuring full support for preservation initiatives.