Punjabi Language Needs More Support Than Ever To Keep It Alive

By Balwant Sanghera

 Thanks to the Punjabi Press Club, Gurinder Mann and I had a very warm welcome by our friends and other guests of the Punjabi Press Club at Empire Banquet Hall on Tuesday, October 3. We were invited to speak about the status of Punjabi internationally, in Canada and at the local level.

United Nations Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recognized 7,000 languages spoken around the globe. It is a great honour for the Punjabi community that Punjabi came out as the tenth most spoken language in the world. It is spoken by more than 150 million people settled in more than 190 countries. In Canada, Punjabi is the third most spoken language with more than 1.5 million speakers. In cities like Surrey, Abbotsford, Brampton, Mississauga. Edmonton and Calgary it is reported to be the second most spoken language behind English. B.C. is far ahead of other provinces in promoting Punjabi.

Here Punjabi is taught in a number of elementary, secondary and post- secondary levels. A number of our Gurdwaras, Khalsa schools and academies are actively promoting Punjabi. Vancouver International Airport is the only airport in the world that has Punjabi signage and offers services in Punjabi to its passengers. Similarly, our ICBC offers its claim services in Punjabi. Moreover, our banks, credit unions, hospitals, and a number of businesses offer services in Punjabi. Often one will find signs like “We Speak Punjabi” on various commercial enterprises. Punjabi Language Education Association (PLEA) has been promoting Punjabi in BC’s schools, colleges, universities and the community for thirty years. As a continuation of these efforts PLEA will be holding a Punjabi Jashan on Saturday, October 28 from 1 to 4:30 PM at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey. It will be in the Spruce Building closer to 128 Street. Parking will be free and also refreshments will be available.

The program will have two parts. A panel discussion consisting of professionals, a parent, a teacher and student. It will discuss ways and means of encouraging more parent and student participation in Punjabi classes especially at the elementary level. The second part will have students share their poems, essays and other works with the attendees. On behalf of PLEA I would like to invite lovers and well-wishers of Punjabi to join us on October 28.

Balwant Sanghera is the President, Punjabi Language Education Association (PLEA).