The Linguistic Heritage of Himachal Pradesh

A Case for Himachali Pahari as an Umbrella Classification

Abstract

The paper examines the linguistic heritage of Himachal Pradesh, arguing for the classification of the region’s diverse dialects under the umbrella term “Himachal? Pahari language. The study critiques George Grierson’s historical classification system, which excluded key dialects such as Kangri, Kahluri, Lahauli, and Kanavari from the Pahri language family. Through detailed analysis of eleven major sublanguages and their subsidiary units, the paper demonstrates that despite significant variations in grammatical structures and formulations, these dialects share underlying cultural-geographical unity that justifies their collective classification. The research highlights the rich folk literature developed across these dialects as evidence of a common cultural foundation. The proposed inclusive classification aligns with the vision of Himachal Pradesh’s founding figures, who recognized language as a fundamental unifying marker for the region’s diverse communities, and better reflects the sociolinguistic reality of the region, where geographical proximity and shared cultural practices often supersede strict linguistic taxonomies.