Punjabi nationalism

Punjabi nationalism is a point of view that asserts that Punjabis are a nation and promotes the cultural unity of Punjabis^[1] and the diverse ethnic people who inhabit the ethno-linguistic region of the Punjab.^[2][3] Baba Sheikh Farid is considered as the Father of Punjabi nationalism.^[4][5] Baba Bulleh Shah (wrote Kafis), Waris Shah (wrote Heer Ranjha) and Bhai Vir Singh (Modern Punjabi Literature) have immense contribution to Punjabi Boli.^[6]

Punjabi nationalists movements

In 1947 after Partition of Punjab into Indian Punjab state and Pakistani Punjab province there were some several movements for protection of Punjabiyat in both Punjabs.

Punjabi nationalism in East Punjab

Punjabi Suba movement was aimed at creation of a Punjabi-majority subah ("province") in the Punjab region of India in the 1950s.^[7] This movement resulted in Punjabi-majority state in India on 1967. There are still cold movements to end discrimination to Punjabi language implement it in Punjabi majority areas like Chandigarh,^[8][9] Haryana,^[10] Delhi,^[11][12][13] Uttar Pradesh,^[14] Jammu and Kashmir^[15] and many institutes like schools-colleges in Punjab state itself where Punjabi language is ignored.^[16][17][18] Punjabi language dialects like Bauria, Bazigari, Bhand, Dhaha, Gojri, Lahanda, Lubana, Odi, Rai Sikhi and Sansi are also becoming extinct in Punjab, India.^[19] There is Hindi imposition since 1950s and 1960s in state against Punjabi language.^[20][21] Despite a rich heritage of Punjabi literature, Punjabi Television serial industry in Indian Punjab has totally disappeared.^[22]

Punjabi nationalism in West Punjab

In Pakistani Punjab province, Punjabi Language Movement is a linguistic movement in aimed at reviving the Punjabi language, art, culture and literature in Pakistan. There are several attempts going on by Punjabi society for implementation of Punjabi language^[23] as it is completely ignored by authorities in Punjab province.^[24][25] Urdu is preferred medium of education in local schools-colleges^[26][27] as well as Government paperwork which is very threatening for survival of Punjabi language in Punjab, Pakistan.^[28][29] But Urdu is the mother tongue of only about 7.57% Pakistanis.^[30] In September 2015, a case was filed in Supreme Court of Pakistan against Government of Punjab, Pakistan as it did not take any step to implement Punjabi language in the province.^[31] Punjabi lovers also say that creation of Bangladesh out of Pakistan proves that love of Mother-tongue is more important than religion.^[32] Pakistani Punjabi language film industry is in crisis as filmmakers were not producing Punjabi language films like before 1975 Punjabi films ruled in film industry of Pakistan.^[33] Television Channels from Lahore (Punjab's capital city) are all in Urdu instead of Punjabi.^[34] There is still 150-year-old unofficial ban on education in Punjabi language in Punjab, Pakistan and Government is ignorant about it thus compelling Punjabi people to protest.^[35] In August 2015, Pakistan Academy of Letters, International Writer’s Council (IWC) and World Punjabi Congress (WPC) organised Khawaja Farid conference and demanded Punjabi University should be established in Lahore and Punjabi language should be declared as the medium of instruction at the primary level.^[36] In Lahore, every year thousands of punjabis gather on International Mother Language Day seeking an end to the 150-year-old ban on education in Punjabi in Pakistan and against Urdu-isation of Punjab.^[37] In September 2015 at Government Emerson College, Multan thousands of aspirants seeking admission protested against the administration for forcing them not to adopt Punjabi and Saraiki dialect as compulsory or optional subjects as usually majority of students prefer Punjabi and Saraiki dialect balancing their marks sheet in BA (third year).^[38]

References