Educate kids in Punjabi, save language: Experts

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, March 3

The old and new generations will have to work hand in hand for the survival of the Punjabi language. Punjabi educationists, poets, journalists and activists gathered at Oxford felt that the language would disappear sooner or later if such steps were not taken.

The event was organised recently by the UK-based Lok Foundation to celebrate International Mother Language Day. Dr Pritam Singh, Professor at Oxford Brookes University and one of the organisers, highlighted the colonial mindset and a misconception among Punjabis that speaking English with their children would increase the chances of their success.

Nuzhat Abbas, a singer, writer and social worker from Oxford, stressed the need to educate children in their mother language. She urged Punjabi parents to value their own language at home as it was important for early communication and essential for children’s identity and sense of belonging. Her views were echoed by other speakers.

Tanveer Zaman Khan, a journalist and social worker from London, said there was a need to modernise the Punjabi language so that current and future generations, especially the diaspora, didn’t forget their mother language and cultural heritage. He said Punjabi was spoken by the majority in Pakistan, but still it was the most neglected language there.

Kanwal Dhaliwal, a renowned painter from London, said experts should work together to develop a script for Punjabis living outside India and Pakistan.