Author Topic: My Father the Land, My Mother the Language. (Read 2488 times)

LondonPunjabi · « **on:** May 31, 2010, 05:21:24 PM »

My Father the Land, My Mother the Language.

I for one have always been fiercely proud of my native Punjab and have always been in love with its language. Brothers and sisters we were, 1947 saw us torn apart. Punjabi was the one thing we Punjabi’s had in common and it was the one thing that bound us together; indeed it gave birth to our culture. Yes, Punjab our Father; Punjabi our Mother.

[size=11]I have met many Indians and Pakistani Punjabi’s who speak so fondly of the Punjab. They feel the same as I do about the language and the land. After all before partition Punjabi was spoken by Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs and each were proud of the land as well as the language. Sadly it is being eroded on both sides of the border.[/size]

In the India Punjabi is being polluted by the use of Hindi and English and in Pakistan words from Arabic and English are creeping in at an alarming rate. It makes me wonder though; do Punjabi folk really have a love affair with the Punjab? I know I do. I have been to Pakistan; from Multan to Lahore and further. I found the Punjabis there had very much in common with the Punjabis in India because, essentially, we are the same people. It is indeed an important language on both sides of the border. Somewhere along the line we allowed someone to pour poison on our love for each other.

For me below are three of the very best Punjabi songs ever written, all written by a Punjabi from India who was born in what is now Pakistan; the brilliant writer and poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi. The first is sung by another brilliant Punjabi from the Pakistani side of the border, the great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan; the second by another brilliant Punjabi, the legend that is Jagjit Singh and finally the third by K Deep, he of the dodgy hair-do and equally dodgy green suit, but what a voice.

Hear the lyrics and you will hear what I mean


Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Mae Ni Mae

(Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) .


Ik Shikra Yaar and Chithi na koi Sandes live By Jagjit Singh

(Jagjit Singh)
(the second part “Chithi na koi Sandes” by Anand Bakshi, which might be a variation of another S K Batalvi poem) .


Rukh by Shiv Kumar Batalvi

(K Deep)

There we have it, Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims; all exponents of the language that is Punjabi, all at their very best.

Punjabi Janta Forums - Janta Di Pasand · « **on:** May 31, 2010, 05:21:24 PM »

KayP · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2010, 05:27:25 PM »

Nice one, it's rare to see someone find similarities between cultures. It's easier to seek differences and separate ourselves from each other.

LondonPunjabi · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2010, 05:33:51 PM »

Quote from: Rano Billi on May 31, 2010, 05:27:25 PM

Nice one, it's rare to see someone find similarities between cultures. It's easier to seek differences and separate ourselves from each other.

That is very true. I often wonder why Indians and Pakistanis can't see the woods for the trees.

KayP · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2010, 05:34:56 PM »

Quote from: LondonPunjabi on May 31, 2010, 05:33:51 PM

That is very true. I often wonder why Indians and Pakistanis can't see the woods for the trees.

Maybe because it's easier to hate and be angry and cast blame then accept and honour each other.

LondonPunjabi · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2010, 05:41:23 PM »

Quote from: Rano Billi on May 31, 2010, 05:34:56 PM

Maybe because it's easier to hate and be angry and cast blame then accept and honour each other.

You're right.

But those three videos I have posted in the opening post; I just love that kind of music and lyrics. Shiv Kumar Batalvi poestry is fantastic. I listen to that kind of Punjabi a lot, especially in the car. It brings sanity and nostalgia back into ones life.

Grenade Singh · « **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2010, 07:35:19 PM »

I personally love this song, because it brings back memories of a Rangla Hareya Bhareya Punjab. It really touches your heart.

It wasn't until after the partition that people of Punjab (India side) really set out to protect their mother language. Punjabi wasn't given any status in Punjab. The Punjabi Suba Movement essentially helped get credit for Punjabi. Because the chance of losing Punjabi was so big, as Indian government wasn't cooperating, the Punjabis furiously fought to keep it. Now that the danger has been gone, people have gone back to the pre-1947 days.

The partition may have helped Muslims get a land dedicated to their religion, but it certainly put an axe through the Punjab and the Punjabi language. Thanks for posting this!

PS: We've had Muslim moderators/administrators on this site that lived happily amongst us. They're not with us, but when they were, I felt so proud of having Punjabis from both sides together on one site. They both were very friendly to all us, that it never felt as if they were outsiders.

LondonPunjabi · « **Reply #6 on:** June 01, 2010, 06:02:22 PM »

Grenade Singh

Don't worry my brother, the Punjab will rise again.

TheStig · « **Reply #7 on:** June 01, 2010, 08:49:58 PM »

thats a great post indeed
well yes,I have came across so many punjabi's from Pakistan punjab and Indian Punjab and I didn't find any difference in them. Punjab was a land of 5 rivers but after partition it got half of the side on India and half in Pakistan. although there is a border in between still I am proud that both sides have kept the Punjabi language. Punjabi's are very famous for their culture ,tradtion,festivals and their behaviour. but a lot has been changed .Still I hope this part of the world keep progressing and make India proud

Kudrat Kaur · « **Reply #8 on:** June 01, 2010, 09:34:26 PM »

Really nice Post..We need these kind of posts..All r mine Fav..I Love to Speak in Punjabi..I dont know about others..but two of mine classmates were Pakistani here..They speak so fluent Punjabi.. As far As i know..they r really nice human beings too..Country doesn't matter Above all we r human beings..

LondonPunjabi · « **Reply #9 on:** June 02, 2010, 08:33:30 PM »

Quote from: KUDRAT GREWAL on June 01, 2010, 09:34:26 PM

Really nice Post..We need these kind of posts..All r mine Fav..I Love to Speak in Punjabi..I dont know about others..but two of mine classmates were Pakistani here..They speak so fluent Punjabi.. As far As i know..they r really nice human beings too..Country doesn't matter Above all we r human beings..

Kudrat Garewal ji

Thanks for your kind words. Don't worry, I will post some real thought provoking posts to keep the grey matter that is our brain working.

I love Punjabi too. Here in the UK, I have some really good Punjabi friends of both sexes and of all three of the main religions of the Punjab.

Author Topic: My Father the Land, My Mother the Language. (Read 2488 times)

LondonPunjabi

My Father the Land, My Mother the Language.

Punjabi Janta Forums - Janta Di Pasand

My Father the Land, My Mother the Language.

KayP

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LondonPunjabi

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KayP

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LondonPunjabi

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Grenade Singh

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LondonPunjabi

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TheStig

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Kudrat Kaur

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LondonPunjabi

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