Will promote all languages: Sandhwan

Our Correspondent

Malerkotla, February 24

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has announced that the Punjab Government is determined to accord due respect to all languages spoken in the state, including Urdu.

While responding to a question after the concluding session of the annual function of Punjab Urdu Academy, Malerkotla, Sandhwan said Urdu was one of the sweetest languages and besides being used widely by poets, it is the best tool to interpret the heritage of the border state.

“Urdu is a very sweet language and our heritage teaches us love and affection. If Punjabi is our mother tongue, Urdu is our ‘maasi’ (maternal aunt),” said Sandhwan asserting that the Punjab Government does not want any language spoken in Punjab to lag behind.

Earlier, Malerkotla MLA Zamil Ur Rehman claimed that the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann was poised to support organisations working for the promotion of Urdu language. “First time in the history of post-independent India, Punjab Urdu Academy has started teaching of Urdu in eight districts and the results of examinations conducted in these districts have been declared,” said Rehman, declaring that eminent Urdu scholars, writers and poets were felicitated for their contributions made in the field of Urdu language.

Karnail Singh Panchi, a trilingual poet, was felicitated with Lifetime Achievement Award by the academy, consisting of Rs 1.5 lakh, a shawl and citation in recognition of his contribution made during 70 years.

Mohammad Bashir (Saadat Hasan Manto Award), Dr Renu Behal (Krishan Chander Urdu Nasar Award), Dr Anwar Ahmed Ansari (Rajinder Singh Bedi Urdu Nasar Award), Khushbir Singh Shaad (Kanwar Mohinder Bedi Shayari Award), Anjum Qadri (Tilok Chand Mehroom Urdu Shayari Award) and Dr Nadim Ahmed (Allama Iqbal Urdu Shayari Award) were felicitated with citations and cash awards worth Rs 50,000 each.

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