Punjabi’s robust growth

The first-generation Punjabi migrant community displays the classic traits of new South Asian migrants, including clinging to the concept of religious and cultural identity, and supporting the cricket team of the country they gave up.

Thus, the Punjabi culture and language are experiencing an upturn in Australia. There are bhangra competitions, Punjabi language classes are popular, and among the expatriate kids, there is a desire to explore and imbibe the culture of their parents.

Manpreet Singh, executive producer of a Punjabi show at the state-run SBS Radio in Melbourne, says that growth of the gurdwaras and cultural organisations in Australia has helped the growth of the language. "Punjabi classes are organised at the gurdwaras on the weekends," she says. "Our state (Victoria) has accredited Punjabi for the school curriculum, and kids have a greater incentive to learn it because they get additional credits for it."

SBS Radio started its Punjabi service in the late 1970s, with a fortnightly programme, mostly about "back home". "But, over the past 10 years, things have changed," says the award-winning journalist Manpreet, who moved to Australia in 1991 and joined SBS two years later. "We now mostly focus on the issues relevant to the migrants, which the mainstream media doesn't cover.”

Preetinder Pal  Singh, a producer at the SBS, says that the programming is aimed at Pakistani-Punjabis, too, who are an integral part of Australia’s Punjabi diaspora. — RM