Pakistani school chain bans Punjabi language
Lahore, October 16
A group of Pakistan’s private schools, owned by former Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, has banned Punjabi within and outside the campus, drawing flak from various quarters.
The Beaconhouse School System (BSS) recently issued a notification to the parents, declaring Punjabi a foul language for the children as well as the parents.
“Foul language (taunts, abuses, Punjabi and hate speech) is not allowed within and outside the school premises, in the morning, during school hours…,” the fifth point of the notification reads.
Many parents, prominent Punjabi language activists and literary organisations have demanded that the school administration immediately withdraw the notification and tender an apology to those having Punjabi as their mother language.
Punjabi scholar and columnist Mushtaq Soofi said he had seen the notification on social media and found it “disgraceful to millions of Punjabis who are living in Pakistan and Indian Punjab and also the Punjabi diaspora living across the globe.”
Prof Saeed Bhutta of Punjab University’s Oriental College said, “The Punjabi language has an age-old history from Baba Farid to Khwaja Farid. The school administration’s step is a disgrace and ignorance of a certain class towards Punjabi heritage.”
“The 1973 Constitution allows the federating units to impart formal primary learning in the mother tongue,” Bhutta said. — PTI
