Punjabi has scientific value: Ex-PM

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 2

Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, chief guest at the two-day International Punjabi Conference, said a language was not only used for exchanging ideas, interaction and exercising religious practices, but also to uplift sincere thoughts and ideas.

“Punjabi, 1,000 years’ old language, has also the quality of uplifting thoughts, including revolutionary opinions and ideas,” he said.

While inaugurating the International Punjabi Conference that was attended by writers, academicians and various other dignitaries, including NRIs, Manmohan Singh said the language teachers and students would get benefited by the conference, he said.

“Baba Farid and Guru Nanak Devji enriched the Punjabi language by using their couplets and religious verses. This language played important roles in revolution for the Independence of the country,” he said.

Speaking in chaste Punjabi, Manmohan Singh said, “A language is a medium of expression used by everybody, groups and even children to express their ideas. Symposiums, workshops and debates are held in languages.”

Without naming any film or painting, Manmohan Singh said some particular community felt that certain films, writings and paintings tarnish the image of the community and religion. The community people used the medium of language to get imposed a ban on such films, writings and paintings.

He said sometimes government also felt that writings of particular language tarnished its image. However, the good thoughts could never be suppressed. They rose on their own and there was no need to ban a bad thought, they subside with the passage of time, he said.

“In 1469, new revolutionary proverbs in Punjabi language began when Guru Nanak Devji laid the foundation stone of Sikh religion. In his sayings the Guru had indicated the ending of social evils. Punjabi is not only a language, but also has scientific value,” Manmohan Singh said.