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Language, culture and heritage are the cornerstones of civilizations - ancient, medieval and present. It is very difficult to draw the lines of demarcation between languages, cultures and heritage of different regions because these are interwoven and overlapping. Language is a medium of expression of feelings, emotions, reason, prudence, passions and vision. Mankind since time immemorial has evolved different modes of expression, called tongues, dialects or languages. A language is a living organism, which originates, develops and dies. There are so many languages that have died away and are extinct now.
Culture reflects the macro and micro behavioural structure of a society generally accepted. All practices that people undertake, adopt or follow consciously for their economic, social, political, moral, religious or spiritual satisfaction come under the garb of culture. These practices, rites, rituals, customs, traditions, arts, architecture, food and dress etc. become part of their individual and collective life and pass on from generation to generation. It is a process of history and differentiates one community from other, one nation from other and one time span from the other. It is like a tree that has its roots in the past, branches in the present and shades in future.
The concept of heritage refers to the stock of art and science of a society preserved in different forms. It reflects the past, reforms the present and regulates the future behaviour of individuals and societies. Different societies and nations have different stock of heritages. Major part of heritage is attributed to past culture. In other words heritage is past culture preserved in different forms.
Geographically, Mirpur is situated on the southern borders of the former State of Jammu and Kashmir. District Mirpur is situated 32.17 to 32.50 degree north and 72.40 to 80.30 degree east on the world map with reference to Kashmir map. Before partition its area was 1,627 sq miles. Its southern and western borders touch Gujrat, Jhelum, Gujar Khan and Rawalpindi districts of Pakistan. Before partition Jammu province had five districts named, Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Riasi and Mirpur. After partition major area of former district of Mirpur fell into Pakistani administered Kashmir and district Mirpur was further divided into two more districts named Kotli and Bhimber.
It is said that old Mirpur...