In Pakistan, Punjabi still struggles for its due status

Bathinda: Whether in Charhda (eastern) Punjab in India or Lehnda (western) Punjab in Pakistan, Punjabi continues to struggle for its rightful place as a mother tongue. In Punjab in India, despite Punjabi being the first language and the government directing depts to work in Gurmukhi, complaints of the language being sidelined persist. Activists have even resorted to blackening signboards where Punjabi appears below other languages. Across the border, Punjabi speakers in Pakistan's Punjab are demanding official recognition, compulsory teaching in schools and colleges, and use of Punjabi as a medium of instruction—ironically, in a province named Punjab.International Mother Language Day was observed on Saturday (February 21) on both sides of Punjab.While the Punjab Provincial Assembly in Pakistan adopted a resolution in October 2024 to make Punjabi a compulsory subject, little progress has been made since then, as the bill granting Punjabi official status is still pending.After decades of struggle, the assembly passed the resolution on October 29, 2024, directing that Punjabi be taught at all levels. The motion was moved by PML-N MPA from Toba Tek Singh, Amjad Ali Javed, and adopted by Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan.Punjabi Parchar president Ahmad Raza told TOI over phone from Lahore that the resolution amounted to "a first step" in a long campaign. "A lot more needs to be done. We want a common curriculum acceptable across all of Punjab," he said.Despite being the mother tongue of over 11 crore Pakistanis—44.7% of the population—Punjabi continues to rank below Urdu, Pashto, Sindhi and Balochi in official status. Urdu remains the national language despite being spoken far less than Punjabi, while other regional languages enjoy recognition in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In Pakistan, Punjabi is written in Shahmukhi script.Currently, Punjabi is taught only as an elective from Class 6 to postgraduate level. Activists want it taught from nursery to postgraduation as a compulsory subject, with Punjabi becoming the medium of instruction.Raza noted that under the 1973 Constitution, provinces were empowered to promote their own languages and cultures, and the 18th Amendment of April 2010 further strengthened these rights. "Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa used these provisions to promote their languages, but Punjab showed no interest, leaving Punjabi without official status," he said.The struggle for its official status started in 1950s. The protests got some momentum in 1965 when a group of Punjabi speaking people formed an organization Majlis Shah Hussain, which could not last long and was banned. After the closure of Majlis Shah Hussain, Punjabi Adabi Sangat was formed. During the 1970s, the votaries of Punjabi language were regarded as anti-state. Then young men and women mainly students came together and formed independent alternative theatre groups aiming to promote Punjabi. Though not much could be achieved but it had sown the seeds for the future protests as it was stated that Punjabi is not only the question of language, culture and identity but it is deeper than prevailing concepts where right to propagate mother tongue and cultural heritage is being snatched. A rally was organized in 1973 where hundreds of people gathered for promotion of Punjabi and Punjabi was started as an elective subject in post graduation courses, said Punjabi Parchar.Pics: Punjabi Parchar president Ahmad Raza with acclaimed Punjabi poet Baba Najmi wearing scarfs with Gurmukhi alphabets (Indian Punjabi) on mother tongue day