The Akal Takht has called on the Punjab Government to ensure that Punjabi is taught as a mandatory subject in all schools across the state, from nursery level onwards, regardless of the educational board they are affiliated with. Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, the officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht, emphasized the importance of prioritizing the Punjabi language in the state.
He expressed concern over reports indicating that several schools are making English and Hindi compulsory, while keeping Punjabi as an optional subject. Gargaj criticized this trend, stating that it reflects a growing negligence towards Punjabi, which is unacceptable in Punjab. He stressed that the mother tongue is the foundation of a thriving community, making it essential to preserve and promote Punjabi.
In addition to the government’s role, Gargaj urged parents to take responsibility for encouraging their children to learn Punjabi from an early age. He pointed out that understanding Punjabi is crucial for connecting with the sacred Sri Guru Granth Sahib, which is written in Gurmukhi, the script of the Punjabi language.
The Jathedar also called on Punjabi language activists to actively inspect schools in their areas to identify those not teaching Punjabi from the nursery class. He suggested that a list of such schools should be compiled and presented to the Akal Takht Sahib for further action.
This call comes at a time when the importance of preserving regional languages is being debated, with Akal Takht emphasizing that teaching Punjabi should be an integral part of the educational system in Punjab.
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