“Punjabiye Zubane”
I have noticed these past couple of weeks that discussions about the value of Punjabi have become more prevalent. The issue of maintaining our “ma boli” is constantly on our minds and manifests in our everyday lives. However, with the onset of many Vaisakhi melas, Nagar Kirtans, and of course Satinder Sartaj concerts the discussions are heightened.
Recently, on Jus Punjabi’s “Aaj Da Mudda” show, there was an insightful conversation about pronunciation and the longevity of Punjabi. The host and guest discussed how East Punjabi’s pronunciation of words have changed (we are taking the easier route). Despite this change in pronunciation, the guest highlighted how Punjabi has survived the most turbulent of times (e.g. the state language during Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s rule was Farsi and the 1960’s division of India Punjab).
As he spoke, I was reminded of Gurdas Mann’s song “Punjabiye Zubane” (listen below). This song captures how the strength of the Punjabi language was developed over time. It is this strength that has allowed it to survive. I am left wondering if we 1) have the will and 2) the capacity to nurture and love this language like others have done in the past. Can we help nurture the strength of Punjabi in today’s context? What do you think?
358 Responses to ““Punjabiye Zubane””
Punjabi will survive, but it is very important to keep in mind that all languages are dynamic and changing. The Punjabi that is spoken today is not the same Punjabi that was spoken 100 or 500 years ago. The Punjabi that is spoken 100 years from now is not going to be the same that is spoken today.
It is a common tendency for people to not realize this. I am a second generation Canadian, and my Punjabi is never going to be spoken the same as that of someone from Punjab, and I don't believe that this expectation should exist either. Spoken language will change depending on the locality in which you live. For example, the Punjabi that is spoken in Africa is different than the Punjabi spoken in Punjab.
I think it is important to be able to speak in Punjabi in order to communicate with others, and to interpret Punjabi literature; but at the same time, I'm not going to pretend that I'm going to have the same vocabulary as someone who lives in a purely Punjabi environment.
One of Punjabi's strengths is that it has a great religion centred around it, as well as a cultural aspect (e.g. music) that has modernized itself to stay relevant with todays' society. Ironically, it is this "dynamic" capability of the language and surrounding religion/culture that allows it to sustain itself in the long term!
Punjabi will survive, but it is very important to keep in mind that all languages are dynamic and changing. The Punjabi that is spoken today is not the same Punjabi that was spoken 100 or 500 years ago. The Punjabi that is spoken 100 years from now is not going to be the same that is spoken today.
It is a common tendency for people to not realize this. I am a second generation Canadian, and my Punjabi is never going to be spoken the same as that of someone from Punjab, and I don't believe that this expectation should exist either. Spoken language will change depending on the locality in which you live. For example, the Punjabi that is spoken in Africa is different than the Punjabi spoken in Punjab.
I think it is important to be able to speak in Punjabi in order to communicate with others, and to interpret Punjabi literature; but at the same time, I'm not going to pretend that I'm going to have the same vocabulary as someone who lives in a purely Punjabi environment.
One of Punjabi's strengths is that it has a great religion centred around it, as well as a cultural aspect (e.g. music) that has modernized itself to stay relevant with todays' society. Ironically, it is this "dynamic" capability of the language and surrounding religion/culture that allows it to sustain itself in the long term!
I so agree with you Aman..Coming from UK my written Punjabi is so English influenced, as is the spoken by my whole generation
I so agree with you Aman..Coming from UK my written Punjabi is so English influenced, as is the spoken by my whole generation
Phulkari Ji, I am trying my best not to sound arrogant, but in the context of your questions, I am an example of a Western raised and born Sikh ( technically an Englishman therefore) who taught himself Punjabi and has gone on, to my knowledge, being the only Western raised Writer trying to close the gap between Traditional Punjabi Literature and a Western born ( like we did with Bhangra a generation ago) Punjabi which proudly shows its tastes, eg Science Fiction et cetra
Just google Rupinderpal Singh Dhillon
Literature read and written in Punjabi by us, could be the next Sikh Revolution, after the Bhangra one
Phulkari Ji, I am trying my best not to sound arrogant, but in the context of your questions, I am an example of a Western raised and born Sikh ( technically an Englishman therefore) who taught himself Punjabi and has gone on, to my knowledge, being the only Western raised Writer trying to close the gap between Traditional Punjabi Literature and a Western born ( like we did with Bhangra a generation ago) Punjabi which proudly shows its tastes, eg Science Fiction et cetra
Just google Rupinderpal Singh Dhillon
Literature read and written in Punjabi by us, could be the next Sikh Revolution, after the Bhangra one
OK Roop, you are beginning to win me over…I am going to learn Punjabi
OK Roop, you are beginning to win me over…I am going to learn Punjabi
We need to get the new generation interested in reading punjabi but the stories must be relevant
We need to get the new generation interested in reading punjabi but the stories must be relevant
As long as there are humanbeings on both sides of radcliffe line,punjabi language will survive,not to say punjabi people in the diaspora.It might not like punjabi of today or 100yrs earlier,but thats ok,coz as AMAN pointed out languages change over time and places.Punjabi in punjab has about 10/15 dialects and about 4 scripts.Even after such great dynamics it doesnot have a viable economical value and that's why it has not polifirated as it should have been.If it were one would'nt be getting the punjabi weeklies for free or maybe this site wouldve been in punjabi.
As long as there are humanbeings on both sides of radcliffe line,punjabi language will survive,not to say punjabi people in the diaspora.It might not like punjabi of today or 100yrs earlier,but thats ok,coz as AMAN pointed out languages change over time and places.Punjabi in punjab has about 10/15 dialects and about 4 scripts.Even after such great dynamics it doesnot have a viable economical value and that's why it has not polifirated as it should have been.If it were one would'nt be getting the punjabi weeklies for free or maybe this site wouldve been in punjabi.
I have always felt, being brought up in Islamabad surrounded with Potohari, that Punjabi was a coarse language. Some would argue that it is very informal, and fun loving, as stated above, but that might actually be the reason of its decline.
Considering that being educated or well-bred is a priority since the English, and that Punjabi feels like a ‘tu’ to ‘tum’ of Urdu, I can see why more and more of the younger generation is more inclined towards Urdu or English for that matter.
But then a language must always evolve in order to survive. One that doesn’t dies out and so does its literature. Punjabi like Urdu doesn’t appear to be evolving, they are transforming themselves into a hybrid of languages. No new words are added to the dictionaries and neither is any form of literature. It is only a matter of time I guess.
Its not just punjabi. Most Indian languagues with the exception of Hindi are facing the same issue. The overwhelming dominance of English has left us with no choice
I have always felt, being brought up in Islamabad surrounded with Potohari, that Punjabi was a coarse language. Some would argue that it is very informal, and fun loving, as stated above, but that might actually be the reason of its decline.
Considering that being educated or well-bred is a priority since the English, and that Punjabi feels like a ‘tu’ to ‘tum’ of Urdu, I can see why more and more of the younger generation is more inclined towards Urdu or English for that matter.
But then a language must always evolve in order to survive. One that doesn’t dies out and so does its literature. Punjabi like Urdu doesn’t appear to be evolving, they are transforming themselves into a hybrid of languages. No new words are added to the dictionaries and neither is any form of literature. It is only a matter of time I guess.
Its not just punjabi. Most Indian languagues with the exception of Hindi are facing the same issue. The overwhelming dominance of English has left us with no choice
Roop, it's very interesting that you have written a novel in Punjabi from the point of view of the diaspora. I have just ordered it online though Amazon.
You and bajwa are right that Punjabi literature must be reflective of contemporary society, or else it will lose relevance.
Roop, it's very interesting that you have written a novel in Punjabi from the point of view of the diaspora. I have just ordered it online though Amazon.
You and bajwa are right that Punjabi literature must be reflective of contemporary society, or else it will lose relevance.
I guess it's up to us, the next generation to decide if we will read Punjabi. A language that people stop reading slowly dies….speaking is not enough…I was shocked to find that the highest level of readers of Literature in the world are the Russians, they take their language very seriously..statistics show that 80% of Russians read Novels…of course the English kids are bought up on reading also..our Punjabi kids are just brought up on Religion, Alcahol and Bhangra, taking the former least seriously…we need to force our kids to read Punjabi novels, poems, and maybe just then, maybe, they might even understand the Guru Granth Sahib
I guess it's up to us, the next generation to decide if we will read Punjabi. A language that people stop reading slowly dies….speaking is not enough…I was shocked to find that the highest level of readers of Literature in the world are the Russians, they take their language very seriously..statistics show that 80% of Russians read Novels…of course the English kids are bought up on reading also..our Punjabi kids are just brought up on Religion, Alcahol and Bhangra, taking the former least seriously…we need to force our kids to read Punjabi novels, poems, and maybe just then, maybe, they might even understand the Guru Granth Sahib
I believe rather than waste millions on building fly Gurduaras, use that money to establish Sikh Schools, Punjabi Schools etc. Get top quality Punjabi teachers, preferably ones who are expert in Punjabi and English. I agree, encourage Kids to read…we Punjabis, esp Sikhs are seen as the stupid ones…mostly we just pick up computer magazines and study books only, never literature…mind you what is sopping Sikh girls?
Maybe Punjabi writers are predominately male? So don’t deal with girl issues?
Anyhow…Love Punjabi Zubane!!
I believe rather than waste millions on building fly Gurduaras, use that money to establish Sikh Schools, Punjabi Schools etc. Get top quality Punjabi teachers, preferably ones who are expert in Punjabi and English. I agree, encourage Kids to read…we Punjabis, esp Sikhs are seen as the stupid ones…mostly we just pick up computer magazines and study books only, never literature…mind you what is sopping Sikh girls?
Maybe Punjabi writers are predominately male? So don’t deal with girl issues?
Anyhow…Love Punjabi Zubane!!
http://www.apnaorg.com/research-papers/amrita-1/
Clearly there was a time when Sikhs read alot, certainly wrote a lot
http://www.apnaorg.com/research-papers/amrita-1/
Clearly there was a time when Sikhs read alot, certainly wrote a lot
Paramjit, are you Sikh yourself? You seem to be saying a lot of negative things about Sikhs all over this website
Paramjit, are you Sikh yourself? You seem to be saying a lot of negative things about Sikhs all over this website
Whilst I think it great that this debate is going on Phulkari , It is clear there are only 4 or 5 participants, those the same as in other areas, on this subject.
That leads me to believe that this blog is giving a false representation of what most believe. I believe that most western raised Sikhs only see Punjabi as the language of Bhangra, and each generation in the west is getting alienated from it..see how p*ss poor the UK's Bhangra songs are, apart from may be Sukhshinder Shinda.
They have already lost their link to Punjabi, let alone the languages that the Adi Granth contains..
Our Parents can't even remember the bedtime stories they were told…so what is there to pass on?
I don't think the western Sikh kids care..that is why this site had to be in English, depsite the Lalah for its symbol.
How many Western Sikh Kids know that Punjabi literature has a rich humanist tradition informed by Sufi and Sikh philosophies over the centuries?
Is punjabi is alive because of sikhs? This only partly true. This is because we human beings are very quick to generalize.
Whilst I think it great that this debate is going on Phulkari , It is clear there are only 4 or 5 participants, those the same as in other areas, on this subject.
That leads me to believe that this blog is giving a false representation of what most believe. I believe that most western raised Sikhs only see Punjabi as the language of Bhangra, and each generation in the west is getting alienated from it..see how p*ss poor the UK's Bhangra songs are, apart from may be Sukhshinder Shinda.
They have already lost their link to Punjabi, let alone the languages that the Adi Granth contains..
Our Parents can't even remember the bedtime stories they were told…so what is there to pass on?
I don't think the western Sikh kids care..that is why this site had to be in English, depsite the Lalah for its symbol.
How many Western Sikh Kids know that Punjabi literature has a rich humanist tradition informed by Sufi and Sikh philosophies over the centuries?
Is punjabi is alive because of sikhs? This only partly true. This is because we human beings are very quick to generalize.
let me eloborate..
When we say sikhs, it gets erroneously associated with sikh/akali politics and it appears as if akalis or sikh politicians were responsible for preserving and promoting punjabi which is not true. On official level, it was CM of congress (Lachman Singh Gill) who was single handedly responsible for the official status of the language. It is said that he literally pushed punjabi down the throat of the detractors, and he did that in his short tenure of 18 months in office. Akalis haven't done much.Even in haryana, the second language status has been given by congress CM and not the personal friend of badal (Chautala).
The majority of the writers who shaped the world of punjabi literature were/are leftists/atheists, starting from Sant Singh Sekhon, Mohan Singh,Gurbax Singh Preetlari upto modern writers/poets like Jagtar, Gorkhi, Waryam Sandhu, Patar , just to name a few. Other than bhai Veer Singh, there is no worthwhile contributon from so called practicing sikhs.
let me eloborate..
When we say sikhs, it gets erroneously associated with sikh/akali politics and it appears as if akalis or sikh politicians were responsible for preserving and promoting punjabi which is not true. On official level, it was CM of congress (Lachman Singh Gill) who was single handedly responsible for the official status of the language. It is said that he literally pushed punjabi down the throat of the detractors, and he did that in his short tenure of 18 months in office. Akalis haven't done much.Even in haryana, the second language status has been given by congress CM and not the personal friend of badal (Chautala).
The majority of the writers who shaped the world of punjabi literature were/are leftists/atheists, starting from Sant Singh Sekhon, Mohan Singh,Gurbax Singh Preetlari upto modern writers/poets like Jagtar, Gorkhi, Waryam Sandhu, Patar , just to name a few. Other than bhai Veer Singh, there is no worthwhile contributon from so called practicing sikhs.
Hindu writers have equal contribution – how can anyone forget Pandit Shardha Ram Philauri, IC Nanda (father of punjabi play writing), Dhani ram Chatrik, Barkat Ram Yuman, Shiv Kumar Batalvi, Balraj Sahni, Prem Prakash, Balwant Gargi, Mohan Bhandari and more. Where in here do the western raised Sikhs fall? Nowhere, they read English and will continue to do so. In time Bhangra will lose appeal as the language vanishes, and sadly over a long time they will integrate and marry the white man, having no soul link to Sikhi..that being the Punjabi Zubane. At that point SIkhsim will fade in the west, or like Jeevan Deol has suggested elsewhere the Western Sikhism will be very different from the original.
Hindu writers have equal contribution – how can anyone forget Pandit Shardha Ram Philauri, IC Nanda (father of punjabi play writing), Dhani ram Chatrik, Barkat Ram Yuman, Shiv Kumar Batalvi, Balraj Sahni, Prem Prakash, Balwant Gargi, Mohan Bhandari and more. Where in here do the western raised Sikhs fall? Nowhere, they read English and will continue to do so. In time Bhangra will lose appeal as the language vanishes, and sadly over a long time they will integrate and marry the white man, having no soul link to Sikhi..that being the Punjabi Zubane. At that point SIkhsim will fade in the west, or like Jeevan Deol has suggested elsewhere the Western Sikhism will be very different from the original.
Sorry some more points…
Punjabi has actually been saved primarily by people/leaders/writers having rural background….had it been left to the city dwellers, it would have been dead because in many sikh homes in cities, hindi/english is still preferred.
Sikh politicians have never been bothered about punjab or punjabi. I will let go all my anger against Akalis, if they manage to get Chandigarh back into Punjab.
So rather than saying that sikhs saved punjabi, we need to say that good punjabis saved their mother tongue and they came from different backgrounds.
But I bet Aman, Paramjeet, Bahadar, Bajwa are all Indian based Sikhs, or immigrants..Bet you no opinion is here from Western Sikhs because they can't read anything in Punjabi..
Sorry some more points…
Punjabi has actually been saved primarily by people/leaders/writers having rural background….had it been left to the city dwellers, it would have been dead because in many sikh homes in cities, hindi/english is still preferred.
Sikh politicians have never been bothered about punjab or punjabi. I will let go all my anger against Akalis, if they manage to get Chandigarh back into Punjab.
So rather than saying that sikhs saved punjabi, we need to say that good punjabis saved their mother tongue and they came from different backgrounds.
But I bet Aman, Paramjeet, Bahadar, Bajwa are all Indian based Sikhs, or immigrants..Bet you no opinion is here from Western Sikhs because they can't read anything in Punjabi..
I realise that Rupinderpal is the exception of course…
I realise that Rupinderpal is the exception of course…
http://www.5abi.com/kahani/kahani2008/022-talaak-varinder-azad-250410.htm
Okay…I can read actually…here is a challenge for all western based Sikhs who may have seen this blog..read the link and send Cheema your translation in Englisj…to prove that you can…I hope you do…otherwise Cheema has won the arguement ( ie Sikhi needs Punjabi, we lose ability to read and write it, we will eventually lose Sikhi, is that right Cheema?)
http://www.5abi.com/kahani/kahani2008/022-talaak-varinder-azad-250410.htm
Okay…I can read actually…here is a challenge for all western based Sikhs who may have seen this blog..read the link and send Cheema your translation in Englisj…to prove that you can…I hope you do…otherwise Cheema has won the arguement ( ie Sikhi needs Punjabi, we lose ability to read and write it, we will eventually lose Sikhi, is that right Cheema?)
That is not quite what I meant..but I bet you none of you Canadian, British or American raised Sikhs could name 5 authors who write in Punjabi
That is not quite what I meant..but I bet you none of you Canadian, British or American raised Sikhs could name 5 authors who write in Punjabi
Cheema,u r right mah freind,these western born and raised sikhs have never even read the punjabi alphabet.They have been reared on myths and delusions,spread by their ignoramous parents,friends and ever visiting babas.Hindu writers have contributed more to punjabi literature than these sword wielding phony sikhs.Of course roop dhillon is exception to the rule as he rightfully should be.
Cheema,u r right mah freind,these western born and raised sikhs have never even read the punjabi alphabet.They have been reared on myths and delusions,spread by their ignoramous parents,friends and ever visiting babas.Hindu writers have contributed more to punjabi literature than these sword wielding phony sikhs.Of course roop dhillon is exception to the rule as he rightfully should be.
Bhai Vir Singh, Hashim Shah, Gurdial Singh, Waris Shah, Mohan Singh
I read the first paragraph of the story with few issues.
I was born and raised in the diaspora.
Get off your high horse and do something positive rather than lamenting.
Bhai Vir Singh, Hashim Shah, Gurdial Singh, Waris Shah, Mohan Singh
I read the first paragraph of the story with few issues.
I was born and raised in the diaspora.
Get off your high horse and do something positive rather than lamenting.
1) have the will and 2) the capacity to nurture and love this language like others have done in the past. Can we help nurture the strength of Punjabi in today’s context?
1) Yes, look at all the comments above! Plus an area not dealt with above is Music. Punjabi music, especially modern Bhangra has done a lot…okay it may have dumbed down, but it connects with us
2) Again , we have the music, the films and looking at the above comments the brain boxes have the Literature!
1) have the will and 2) the capacity to nurture and love this language like others have done in the past. Can we help nurture the strength of Punjabi in today’s context?
1) Yes, look at all the comments above! Plus an area not dealt with above is Music. Punjabi music, especially modern Bhangra has done a lot…okay it may have dumbed down, but it connects with us
2) Again , we have the music, the films and looking at the above comments the brain boxes have the Literature!
A roman version would enable one to write and read Punjabi without a special
need for any font or a program. This would enable us to use the mass media.
I know many a newspapers in Punjabi are not on line for the very reason,
need for a special font. This also keeps
people from making their own web pages as it is quite an effort to make a
web page in Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi or Devnagri.
We need a script which is able to represent all the sounds in the Punjabi
language.
This script then would allow Punjabis worldwide to share and learn from each
other.
This is especially helpful for the parent who speak Punjabi at home in
foreign lands but are unable to teach them their native script due to the
effort involved. Once the kids grow up and go away they loose any connection
with their mother tongue. I am hoping that a Romanized version would make it easier for them to learn.
A roman version would enable one to write and read Punjabi without a special
need for any font or a program. This would enable us to use the mass media.
I know many a newspapers in Punjabi are not on line for the very reason,
need for a special font. This also keeps
people from making their own web pages as it is quite an effort to make a
web page in Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi or Devnagri.
We need a script which is able to represent all the sounds in the Punjabi
language.
This script then would allow Punjabis worldwide to share and learn from each
other.
This is especially helpful for the parent who speak Punjabi at home in
foreign lands but are unable to teach them their native script due to the
effort involved. Once the kids grow up and go away they loose any connection
with their mother tongue. I am hoping that a Romanized version would make it easier for them to learn.
http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/journal_14_2/mann.pdf
This is interesting
http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/journal_14_2/mann.pdf
This is interesting
Just dowload google punjabi ime from google transliteration,then u type on regular keyboard as the word sounds,in roman english and it will be transliterated into punjabi and about 120 other languages whichever u prefer.
Just dowload google punjabi ime from google transliteration,then u type on regular keyboard as the word sounds,in roman english and it will be transliterated into punjabi and about 120 other languages whichever u prefer.
as is this
http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/14.1_Rahman.pdf
I think the solution is that western borns SIkhs take over the Gurdwara committees and Punjabi Schools
as is this
http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/14.1_Rahman.pdf
I think the solution is that western borns SIkhs take over the Gurdwara committees and Punjabi Schools
I want to learn because I would love to be able to read gurmukhi and talk to my partner’s family in their first language. Oh, and understand what the hell is being said at the gurdwara!! I have always liked learning langauges even if I have never found one that a) I like the sound of and b) that has some kind of practical use. I wouldn’t say punjabi was the most beautiful language in the world, but I think it has character, which surely counts for a lot more!!
When I was at uni my partner taught me how to write and read the first 5 letters of the alphabet and a few odd words here and there, but now I have a more or less free year ahead of me I want to really bring myself up to speed. I can comfortably learn about 10 words a day so I’m working my way through hardeep singh’s punjabi recordings on youtube as well as learning to read, pronounce and write letters of the alphabet which I find much, much harder!
I want to learn because I would love to be able to read gurmukhi and talk to my partner’s family in their first language. Oh, and understand what the hell is being said at the gurdwara!! I have always liked learning langauges even if I have never found one that a) I like the sound of and b) that has some kind of practical use. I wouldn’t say punjabi was the most beautiful language in the world, but I think it has character, which surely counts for a lot more!!
When I was at uni my partner taught me how to write and read the first 5 letters of the alphabet and a few odd words here and there, but now I have a more or less free year ahead of me I want to really bring myself up to speed. I can comfortably learn about 10 words a day so I’m working my way through hardeep singh’s punjabi recordings on youtube as well as learning to read, pronounce and write letters of the alphabet which I find much, much harder!
Punjabi Hindus have bias against Punjabi. Growing up in Chandigarh not a single (all were Punjabis except 2) hindu in my class put Punjabi as their language. Few spoke hindi. This was for a census. They were outspoken about their anti Punjabi stand. Teachers were all Punjabi, and 90% were Hindu. They spoke amongst themselves in 'theth' Punjabi, but turned to Hindi when speaking to us even in private. Even sikhs today speak in Hindi at home, but have different reasons for doing so
Punjabi Hindus have bias against Punjabi. Growing up in Chandigarh not a single (all were Punjabis except 2) hindu in my class put Punjabi as their language. Few spoke hindi. This was for a census. They were outspoken about their anti Punjabi stand. Teachers were all Punjabi, and 90% were Hindu. They spoke amongst themselves in 'theth' Punjabi, but turned to Hindi when speaking to us even in private. Even sikhs today speak in Hindi at home, but have different reasons for doing so
Here in our community, None is interested in teaching their kids our culture, language or values. They encourage them in various fields as piano, soccer, etc. but nothing in Punjabi. They just utter opra opra jaya "hun ki kariae, begane desh baithay aan, bache nahin sunday" among other excuses. When kids make fools of themselves with their antics, "cross cultural differences", it is nervous laughter. There are means to teach Punjabi and enough willing teachers, but no willing kids or parents.
Here in our community, None is interested in teaching their kids our culture, language or values. They encourage them in various fields as piano, soccer, etc. but nothing in Punjabi. They just utter opra opra jaya "hun ki kariae, begane desh baithay aan, bache nahin sunday" among other excuses. When kids make fools of themselves with their antics, "cross cultural differences", it is nervous laughter. There are means to teach Punjabi and enough willing teachers, but no willing kids or parents.
He was the , is the, best Non Sikh Writer in Punjabi Shairee..My favorite is Ik Kudi jidha na mohabat
He was the , is the, best Non Sikh Writer in Punjabi Shairee..My favorite is Ik Kudi jidha na mohabat