KARACHI:
It is often observed that most people in Karachi consider those who speak Punjabi as ignorant and backward. Therefore, it is common for Punjabis to be stereotyped as uncivilised and illiterate, especially if they speak the language openly.
This is why parents try their best to stop their children from speaking in Punjabi. Honestly, it is hard to criticise such an approach because the reality is that when a child is enrolled in school and begins to speak Punjabi, not only are they ridiculed and called a villager, but teachers tend to pay less attention to the child as well. This is especially true for English medium schools where the English language is given precedence over our local languages. Foreign languages such as French and Spanish are more widely offered in these schools instead. Needless to say this can be quite disturbing for these children who, as a result, may develop an inferiority complex. Slowly they stop speaking the language altogether because of which a huge part of their identity is lost.
The problem is that people In Karachi aren’t fully aware of the richness that the language has to offer. The enthralling Sufi kalams of Baba Bulleh Shah and others truly capture the unique beauty of the exotic language. The rich literature present in Punjabi such as Heer Ranjha, Sohni Mahiwal and Mirza Sahiba have been passed down from generation to generation with the hopes of keeping the narratives as well as the language alive. Furthermore, Punjabi continues to be the most widely spoken language across Pakistan. The argument for not having Punjabi as a subject and as a medium of imparting knowledge is that it is of no use since English is the universal language while Urdu is the national language of Pakistan.
The bitter truth is that we, Punjabis, have gradually destroyed our own language since we have never dared to own it with pride and confidence. It is about time that we raised our “Punjabi” voice and urged the government to introduce the Punjabi language in the school curriculum. The officials concerned should realise that the strength of Pakistan is in its diversity. The more our students learn about different cultures and languages the more tolerant they will become in the future.
Salma Tahir
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2021.
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