On International Mother Language Day, Harjot Bains describes mother tongue as a lifeline to identity & culture
Chandigarh, February 21:
On the occasion of International Mother Language Day, Punjab’s Higher Education and Languages Minister, S. Harjot Singh Bains, has given clarion call to the people of the state to embrace Punjabi in their daily lives. He emphasised that the mother tongue is vital for identity, education, culture and sustainable development, as it serves as the primary means of communication for sharing knowledge and preserving cultural heritage.
Recognising the rich tapestry of the Punjabi language, the Cabinet Minister asked the Languages department to implement measures aimed at further preserving and promoting the Punjabi language. He highlighted that learning in one’s mother tongue significantly enhances understanding and retention of knowledge, which is essential for effective education.
Additionally, he stressed the deep connection between language and culture, noting that the mother language embodies traditions, stories, and identities that are crucial for fostering community cohesion.
Outlining the state government’s initiatives to promote the mother language, the Cabinet Minister said that the state government has implemented various initiatives to promote the Punjabi language including Best Literary Punjabi Book Award Scheme, in which 48 awards were distributed across various categories from 2020-2024. He said that under the Financial Assistance to Punjabi Literary Societies, as many as 23 societies have received financial assistance to organize literary events, while, Punjabi Literature Creation and Poetry Singing Competitions and Events were also organized at district language offices, with state-level competitions held in Jalandhar and Ludhiana. Additionally, approximately 164 Literary and Cultural Events were organized, including literary workshops, Ru-Ba-Ru functions, and trilingual Kavi Darbar. The state has also celebrated Punjabi Month in November 2023 and 2024, hosting 50 events across Punjab. Furthermore, Punjabi Children’s Literature Quiz Competitions and Events were also conducted in district language offices, with state-level competitions in Ludhiana and Kapurthala.
The Education Minister also highlighted the ambitious initiative to integrate the Punjabi language into Artificial Intelligence (AI). He said that a series of workshops, comprising two one-day sessions and a two-day symposium, has been launched to achieve this goal. “Renowned experts in the field are being consulted to ensure the success of this project. These workshops aim to provide training to writers, students, and Punjabi enthusiasts, enabling them to contribute to the development of AI-powered Punjabi language tools”, he added.
Revealing the initiatives of being in line with the digital age, the Cabinet Minister said that the Languages department has undertaken a massive project to digitize 125,000 books from its library, covering various genres and languages, including Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit, and English. This endeavor aims to provide readers with easy access to a vast array of digital books. Furthermore, the website prepared by the department is making classic literature from Punjabi and around the world available to Punjabi lovers. Additionally, various types of dictionaries and glossaries are also being made available on this website.
