Vernacular languages facing threat of extinction: Prof Banipal

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 18

A three-week refresher course in Punjabi language and literature was inaugurated at the UGC-Human Resource Development Centre of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU). As many as 30 teachers of Punjabi language from the institutes of higher education in the state are participating in the event. Prof TS Banipal, Dean College Development Council presided over the function.

In his inaugural address, prof Banipal expressed his concern over the threat being posed to the vernacular languages in general and Punjabi language in particular, in today’s global world.

“A few vernacular languages have already become extinct and many more are under the threat of extinction,” he rued. The teachers of Punjabi language and literature have an onerous responsibility on their shoulders to grapple with this issue valiantly and to propagate the importance of preserving Punjabi language, which is directly associated with the Punjabi culture, traditions, rituals, ethos and civilisation.

Denigrating the so-called inferiority complex linked with the usage of Punjabi in day-to-day life, he exhorted the teaching fraternity to make efforts to get rid of this complex. Talking about the significance of such courses, he was of the view that they provide us a rare opportunity to interact with each other as well as the learned academicians, which goes a long way in augmenting the expertise, knowledge, competence of the participants, he concluded.

Prof Raminder Kaur, Head, School of Punjabi Studies and the Course Coordinator, briefed the participants about the thrust area of the course. Prof Jatinder Singh, Director, in his welcome address apprised the participants about the achievements of the university in general and the centre in particular, in the past few decades.

Counselling the participants to derive optimum benefits from this course, he advised them not only to listen to each resource person attentively, but also to interact with them to the maximum possible extent.

Earlier, the chief guest was accorded a warm welcome by Prof Jatinder Singh, Prof Raminder Kaur and Dr Mohan Kumar.