Srinagar, 22 October:- Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) Jammu and Kashmir President Vivek Bali has urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to take immediate steps towards restoring Punjabi's rightful place in Jammu and Kashmir, including its recognition as an official language and the introduction of Punjabi in schools, colleges and universities.
Expressing concern over what he described as the continued neglect of Punjabi, Bali said the language is not merely a means of communication but an integral part of the region's cultural heritage, history, identity and traditions. He emphasized that the Sikh community in Kashmir has long been demanding the recognition of Punjabi as an official language and its inclusion in the educational curriculum.
"The holy scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, is written in the Gurmukhi script, which holds immense religious and cultural significance for the Sikh community. Punjabi is an essential part of our identity and heritage. If the language is neglected and future generations are disconnected from it, our cultural roots and traditions may gradually weaken," Bali said.
He noted that a strong protest seeking official recognition of Punjabi as a mother tongue in Jammu and Kashmir has been underway across the Union Territory for the past seven days, with a major protest site established in Jammu near the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh Ji.
Bali pointed out that on September 2, 2020, five languages—Urdu, English, Hindi, Kashmiri and Dogri—were granted official-language status in Jammu and Kashmir. He questioned why Punjabi, which has its own distinct script, a substantial number of speakers and a long history of being taught in schools, was not included among the official languages.
He also highlighted that Punjabi was taught as a subject in schools for decades, including after 1947, and that teachers from different communities, including Muslims, had contributed to its teaching in government schools. According to him, Punjabi is spoken by a large population across Jammu and Kashmir, other parts of India and several countries abroad, making its exclusion a matter of serious concern for Punjabi-speaking people.
The SBSP leader said that despite repeated representations, memorandums, press conferences and appeals through the media, the demand for official recognition had yet to receive the desired response. He said the community had been left with little choice but to take to the streets to make its voice heard.
Bali further expressed concern that the continued neglect of Punjabi could weaken the region's shared cultural heritage and centuries-old traditions of coexistence. He urged the authorities to engage with representatives of the Sikh community and other Punjabi-speaking people to address their concerns through meaningful dialogue.
Calling upon the Chief Minister and the Lieutenant Governor to act with sincerity and urgency, Bali appealed for concrete measures to ensure that Punjabi receives due recognition and is promoted in educational institutions across Jammu and Kashmir.
He reiterated that protecting Punjabi is not just about preserving a language but also about safeguarding the cultural identity, historical legacy and linguistic rights of the people who speak it.