2 Days Punjabi Bhasha Conference begins on a serious note amidst hundreds of Punjabi Lovers who swarm at Punjabi Bhawan Ludhiana.
–Dr Dr S S Johal and Surjit Patar preside. Dr Joga Singh read his research paper.
Ludhiana 27-04-2024
It was an impressive spectacle at Punjabi Sahit Academy auditorium at Ludhiana when hundreds of famous writers and poets thronged at the inaugural session where Dr Gulzar Pandher first welcomed the participants and Dr Sarabjit Singh outlined the purpose of conference in the face of various challenges faced by Punjabi language.
The key note address was of Dr Joga Singh who read and talked about his research on “Punjabi Language- Changing scenario in contemporary times.”
Dr Joga Singh elaborated about the invent of Punjabi language which he said was language of Ab-Originals Punjabis, but with coming of Aryans it got impacted in various ways. He emphasized that a language binds society and it carries history of cultural heritage. However, in contemporary times there are various threats like from global commercial and economic onslaught and hegemony of politics which hinder language progress. He rued that while STATE is not sincere in it’s promotion, people too need to think saving their language and heritage. He advocated Punjabi as medium of instruction on schools and preference in employment besides making it a working language in all the offices of central government as well in the state.
Eminent poet Surjit Patar (Padam Shri) said that Punjabi though has spread seven seas of the globe wherever Punjabi have settled but, in our own state worries are there to be pondered upon by the governments, writers and people themselves. He rued neglect by private schools. He asked writers to bring small stories and cartoons in Punjabi language to popularize their mother tongue in the children.
Padam Bhushana awardee Dr S S Johal, an eminent Punjabi writer and economist and former VC of Panjabi University said that in his career as his assignment with World Bank or as VCs , he was convinced that learning more and more languages always benefit us to influence other in our own way . Punjabi language he said will never die in us as it’s in our blood and veins and we have to be cautious only to preserve our language practically. Citing from examples he said that though his grand children settled or borne overseas they always speak superb Punjabi at home and we never conversed in any other language at home except in Punjabi. He hoped that neighbouring states of Punjab will give Punjabi at least 2nd language status immediately. He was upset at the division of Punjab first in 1947 and then in reorganisation of state in the name of Punjabi Suba which virtually snatched it’s language, land and people giving a hard blow to the Punjabi language spread.
The best of Punjabi lovers and writers came to attend first session as far as from Jammu &Kashmir and Haryana besides from all over Punjab. Many a local college teachers and Punjabi language research students were also present at the conference in its’ first session.