- Punjabi is the language of Sikh Gurus, martyrs and the soul of Punjab — Marginalising Punjabi in Army Public Schools is deeply concerning.
- Neglect of Punjabi in Punjab goes against the spirit of the New Education Policy; ensuring Punjabi remains compulsory in every school is the responsibility of the state government.
- BJP stands firmly with Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat. Sanskrit deserves respect, but not at the cost of Punjabi.
Amritsar, May 12:
BJP Punjab spokesperson Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala has termed the reported neglect of Punjabi language in CBSE-affiliated Army Public Schools in Punjab as a matter of serious concern. He said the CBSE and concerned authorities must respect Punjab’s linguistic sensitivities and constitutional realities. He stated that the provisions of the “Punjab Learning of Punjabi and Other Languages Act, 2008,” enacted during the SAD-BJP government, must be strictly implemented. Under this law, Punjabi is compulsory in every school in Punjab from Class I to Class X.
Prof. Khiala said the issue should not be politicised or given a communal colour. Instead, it should be resolved through dialogue and consensus rather than coercive or imposed policies. He asserted that BJP Punjab stands like a rock with Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat. Punjabi is the language of Sikh Gurus, martyrs and the rich folk culture of Punjab, and any attempt to push it to the margins cannot be accepted. He further said Punjabi is not merely a language but the very soul of Punjab, representing its culture, history and shared heritage. Any neglect of Punjabi is unacceptable under any circumstances. BJP Punjab firmly believes that Punjabi must continue to enjoy its rightful respect and constitutional status on the soil of Punjab. Prof. Khiala clarified that there is nothing wrong in learning or teaching Sanskrit, but not at the cost of Punjabi. He said Sikh Gurus and Sikh tradition honoured people’s languages by composing Gurbani in the language understood by the masses, enabling ordinary people to connect with divine wisdom and spirituality.
Praising the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 introduced by the Narendra Modi government in July 2020, Prof. Khiala said the policy is a significant step towards making education more flexible, skill-oriented, mother-tongue centric and globally competitive. He noted that the NEP strongly advocates education in the mother tongue. The policy recommends that children should be taught in their mother tongue or regional language at least till Class V, and preferably till Class VIII, recognising that mother tongue is the most effective medium for a child’s intellectual and emotional development.He said the NEP seeks to strengthen mother tongues, and therefore any move to weaken Punjabi in Punjab would be contrary to the core spirit of the policy. He urged the concerned authorities to uphold the dignity, respect and constitutional rights of Punjabi language in Punjab.
Prof. Khiala also appealed to the Punjab government to exercise its constitutional authority and responsibility to safeguard the interests of Punjabi language through effective intervention.