Punjabi Janta Forums - Janta Di Pasand
Hobbies Interests Lifestyle => Religion, Faith, Spirituality => Topic started by: PuNjAbAn_KuRhI on August 24, 2008, 01:00:10 PM
-
Use of English in Gurdwaras
by Amir Tuteja
"I was in my parent's gurdwara over the holidays and I don't think I understood even 10 percent of what was said. This is due to my inadequate understanding of Punjabi," a youth remarked recently.
This is definitely a "problem" especially with the Sikh youth in the Western countries. The inadequate knowledge of Punjabi stems probably from the fact that parents don't put an effort to speak Punjabi at home... especially when their kids are young. Many among both the parents and the children, say that because they spend better part of the day around the English speaking people, they don't get a chance to speak Punjabi.
The court said that the administration could not rely on a 1999 Order of the Interior Ministry to refuse a licence as it was outside the authority of that Ministry to regulate the issuing of driver's licence. It went on to say that the Transport Ministry has authority to make rules on the documentation required for a drivers licence. However, there is no requirement in the 1999 Order of the Transport Ministry that requires one's head to be bare for a driver's licence photograph.
Lately I have come across programs in gurdwaras being conducted in English! Is the use of English in gurdwaras the trend of the future in the West? Should the use of English in gurdwaras be encouraged to attract the youth, or opposed as a dilution of the Sikh culture and practices. A controversy is continuing on the topic among the Sikhs here.
I am sure that many young Punjabis, especially those born and raised in the US/Canada/UK would benefit from more English being used in the gurdwaras. The coming generations in the West are certainly not going to be as conversant in the Punjabi language as the community is today, and so English will become increasingly useful in the future as well.
However, there is an inherent problem with using English in gurdwaras in the sense that a lot of stuff just doesn't translate adequately or in English could sound really "strange". Also it would have to be a dual language delivery as we have a large number of those who do not understand English at all.
On the other hand many young Punjabis would benefit from learning the Punjabi language. We speak enough of English in the work-place; places like the gurdwaras and our homes are the only places where we can really be in touch with our very own language. The use of English even in gurdwaras paves the way for the extinction of Punjabi! The community should make an effort to teach Punjabi to the young and not try to preach the sermons in English!
English is necessary in order that the ceremonies can be comprehended fully by a majority. Most of those attending can comprehend everything said in English, and only a few, mainly older folks, can comprehend the Punjabi well. The crucial point is that the elders are already knowledgeable about the religion, and the ceremonies in English won't hurt them, whereas, the young folks are the ones who need to be informed about religion and the best way to do so is to inform them in the language they comprehend best - not the language that the elders feel more comfortable with.
English will have to be accepted if the religious tradition is to continue strong. However, some young people must be adept at Punjabi in order to be able to be the torch-bearers in the future and serve the community. Also every Sikh should have some knowledge of Punjabi so as to comprehend Gurbani and Sikh History well. Conscious effort is needed to learn Punjabi, but it is not hard with so many Punjabi speaking people around. I feel the youngsters will do well to make hay while the sun shines. Gurbani can be appreciated fully only if one can comprehend it without a translation.
In one of his books, Essays in Sikhism, first published in 1944, Teja Singh, the late principal of Khalsa College, Amritsar, addressed this problem in the following way: "As long as Sikhism had to deal with people whose language was akin to Punjabi or Hindi, it had all possibilities of advance. But as soon as it came in contact with people who could not be approached in the original language of the Sikh Scriptures, the attempt failed, because those responsible for the missionary work were not yet certain whether they could use translations in place of the original. ? This is the problem. Can Malayalam, or for that matter any other language, serve the purpose of the Guru's Word? If Sikhism is to go to America or England, which language is to be used by the new converts, English or Punjabi? They will have to recite prayers individually, and approach God in their own tongue. How can their prayer be realistic if offer it the original Punjabi or Hindi?"
How this scenario plays out only time will tell. There are good arguments from either side. I personally feel that increasing use of English in gurdwaras of the West is inevitable. I would rather put more emphasis on keeping the youth engaged in Punjabi culture by bringing them to the gurdwara, not forgetting to celebrate the Sikh festivals, visiting Punjab, and speaking Punjabi at home as much as possible.
-
we will have to start using English if we want the youth to be connected. There's so much parchar in UK because these parcharaks have grown up in UK, they are able to communicate and connect with the youth.. I understand that Punjabi is an integral part and its important for the youth to learn it but term is Gurbani.. and it doesn't necessarily have to be in Punjabi.
-
we will have to start using English if we want the youth to be connected. There's so much parchar in UK because these parcharaks have grown up in UK, they are able to communicate and connect with the youth.. I understand that Punjabi is an integral part and its important for the youth to learn it but term is Gurbani.. and it doesn't necessarily have to be in Punjabi.
exactly !
as for the waheguru ji - a tuk from gurbani
" bin boleyan sabh kichh jaanda"
he alone don't need our words to hear our heart!
-
exactly !
as for the waheguru ji - a tuk from gurbani
" bin boleyan sabh kichh jaanda"
he alone don't need our words to hear our heart!
says it all :smile:
-
i am wondering that why English is not used in gurudwara sahib's in western countries??
it is obvious that youth there would find it difficult to understand Punjabi,
Punjabi language sadi mother language a but eh v sochna chaida k jina ne shuru to English e sikhi a oh kive understand krn ge??
gurudwara sahib's wich English use kiti ja sakdi a, ya fer projectors de through gurbani di english translation show kiti ja sakdi ae, like jive Shri Harimandar Sahib ch show krde ne.. Technology nal bhut kuch possible ae te bhut tareeke mil jange es problem nu solve krn de.
pr j kuch samajh e ni aa reha sun rhe person nu ta o motivate kive hovega??
jdo youth impress hovega, motivate hovega fer apne aap e oda ji kre ga k Punjabi sikhe oh.
and fer o punjabi/Gurbani dia classes join kr sakda ae..
Solution sab kase da hai.. saanu just effort krna payega.. !!