An influential Sikh body based in Amritsar has formally requested the Central government and the administration of Jammu and Kashmir to reinstate Punjabi as an official language within the Union Territory and to reintroduce it as a subject in the region’s schools. The Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD), a prominent Sikh educational and religious organization, has voiced its support for this long-standing demand, which has been championed by various Sikh community groups in Jammu and Kashmir.
The renewed push for Punjabi’s official recognition and its inclusion in the school curriculum is being spearheaded by the Jammu Punjabi Morcha. This group, comprising members of the Sikh community from Jammu and Kashmir, includes figures such as Surjan Singh, the general secretary of the District Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee in Jammu, and Taranjit Singh Tony, chairman of Gurdwara Rani Talab in Digiana, Jammu. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that the morcha has been actively campaigning for the language’s rightful place in the region’s public life and educational institutions.
The demand for Punjabi’s official status is deeply rooted in history. Prior to 1947, the language was an integral part of the school education system in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and maintained a significant presence in public discourse, particularly in the Jammu region. Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar, president of the CKD and an Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Amritsar South, stated in a recent press release that a substantial Punjabi-speaking population resides in Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized that the language is intrinsically linked to the region’s historical narrative, its rich cultural heritage, and its social fabric. Safeguarding Punjabi, according to Dr. Nijjar, is crucial for preserving the identity and linguistic rights of its speakers.
In a move to further the cause, the CKD has announced its intention to dispatch a delegation to Jammu in the near future. This delegation is expected to meet with leaders of the Jammu Punjabi Morcha to strategize and coordinate efforts aimed at advancing the demand for Punjabi’s official status. Beyond seeking official recognition, the CKD is also advocating for the reintroduction of Punjabi in schools, the prompt filling of vacant Punjabi teacher positions, and the formulation of an effective policy to encourage younger generations to embrace and utilize their mother tongue.
The current discourse surrounding Punjabi’s status has intensified following the enactment of the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act in 2020. This legislation designated Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Hindi, and English as the official languages of the Union Territory, notably omitting Punjabi from this list. However, Section 4 of the same Act does stipulate that efforts should be made to promote and develop regional languages, a provision that proponents of Punjabi hope can be leveraged. The Act’s framework acknowledges the importance of regional languages, including Punjabi, Gojri, and Pahari, in the cultural mosaic of Jammu and Kashmir.
The historical connections between Punjabi and Jammu and Kashmir extend far beyond administrative borders. For centuries, the two regions have shared profound cultural, literary, and social ties. Punjabi-speaking communities have consistently preserved their linguistic traditions in Jammu and in certain pockets of the Kashmir Valley. The Gurmukhi script, which is closely associated with Punjabi’s literary and religious traditions, remains a vital component of the language’s cultural identity for many Punjabi-speaking Sikhs in the region.
Parliamentary records from 2020 indicate that Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Gujral had stated that Punjabi was taught alongside Urdu and Hindi, and Punjabi signboards were a common sight in parts of Jammu and Kashmir until approximately 1980. This historical evidence underscores the language’s past prominence. Dr. Satwant Singh Rissam, chairman of the Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Memorial Trust in Jammu and Kashmir, has formally requested the Union Territory government to issue a white paper. This document, he hopes, will elucidate the rationale behind Punjabi’s exclusion from the list of official languages and will pave the way for a time-bound review of this decision.
Dr. Nijjar further articulated that the protection of a language transcends mere official recognition; it is fundamentally about safeguarding its literature, traditions, and collective memory. He expressed concern that Punjabi’s omission from the official language list and its absence from the school curriculum represent a failure to adequately acknowledge this historical and cultural legacy. For the Jammu Punjabi Morcha and its supporters, the aspiration is not simply to add another language to an official roster but to restore Punjabi to its rightful place within the educational and cultural landscape of a region where it has a deep and enduring historical presence.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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