Punjabis not the language of Sikhs alone: Nayar

Veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar thinks the real danger to Punjabi language is from Punjabis who dislike their own mother tongue.

Veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar thinks the real danger to Punjabi language is from Punjabis who dislike their own mother tongue. He was speaking on Punjabi language,literature and culture in the 21st century at a seminar organised by the postgraduate department of Punjabi at Government College Ambala Cantonment on Thursday.

Nayar said it was a wrong notion that Punjabi was facing a danger from Hindi. He termed Hindi as the link language between Punjabi and the world.

He said it was because of the shortsightedness of the Akalis that Punjab has been reduced to a small state where Punjabi ceased to have chances of development. Punjabi is the language of all Punjabis and not of Sikhs as is being propagated by some vested interests, he added.

Story continues below this ad

Shifting to another subject of his particular interest,peace between India and Pakistan,Nayar said he had a proposal to set up a museum on the Indo-Pak border,which should highlight the happenings of the partition of 1947.

Earlier,Dr Sutinder Singh Noor delivered the keynote address,expressing his views on challenges being faced by Punjabi in the 21st century. College principal Dr S S Phulia welcomed the participants to the seminar.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram