Noted journalist Kuldip Nayar’s revelation about Unesco report predicting the disappearance of Punjabi language in 50 years, should serve as a wake-up call for Punjabis all over the world, and the Punjab government committed to Punjabiat, said Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, president, Guru Gobind Singh Foundation.

It is high time for the Badal government to prepare a perspective plan to save Punjabi from extinction, as also for its development and widest possible use in the administration. The state government should earmark at least Rs 5 crore in the budget for the development of the language and preservation of heritage, since the 12th century enshrined in Punjabi which, being spoken by Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs, has cultural links between India and Pakistan.

Through an enactment, it should be mandatory for the State Languages Department to ensure that different departments, corporations, boards etc use Punjabi in administration, and the annual report of the Languages Department should be tabled in the Legislative Assembly; officials not doing work in Punjabi should be debarred from getting annual increment for disregard for the state language. It should also be made obligatory for all state government educational institutions as well as state-aided institutions to purchase for libraries at least two copies of each of Punjabi books published in a year to boost the Punjabi publishing industry which is now almost non-existing.

Editors note: see earlier story at http://www.punjabheritage.org/cultural-heritage/punjabi-language-will-disappear-in-50-years-unesco-report.html 

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