CHANDIGARH: A 21member committee headed by Dr.P.N Chhuuani is moving at a Snail’s pace to block effective Progress towards implementation Of Panjab University’s decision to implement Punjabi language as a Compulsory or qualifying subject in the degree courses.

The committee was scheduled to meet last week but owing to its obviously anti-Punjabi composition not many members turned up with the result that the meeting had to be adjourned for want of quorum. Normally each such meeting has to be held again irrespective of the quorum but its chairman simply walked away without fixing any new date.

The fact is that most members of the committee are Hindus or are otherwise opposed to the implementation of the university decision. Dr. Chhuuani himself is a leading Arya Samajist of Chandigarh and is said to be hand in glove with the anti-Punjabi lobby within the university. That is why he is openly opposed to the decision being extended to the medical discipline.

The committee has to sort out a few minor problems relating to the implementation of the move. First what should be done in regard to students who have not studied Punjabi language in school? Second which other language besides Punjabi should be taught as a compulsory subject.

Consensus among Sikh teachers is that foreign students should be asked to study Punjab’s history and culture in lieu of Punjabi. English should be the second compulsory language as was suggested by Sikh militants.

Most teachers also suggest that the decision should be implemented without delay. The new scheme of teaching should start from July 1 when the new academic year begins.

According to Dr. Darshan Singh head of department Guru Nanak Studies another serious problem the Panjab University faces pertains to underrepresentation of the Sikh community not only among the teaching staff but also in the administration side.

Not more than 5% of the Panjab university’s employees are Sikhs he said Several posts filled recently by the university have again gone to non-Sikhs mostly Punjabi Hindus.

Most Sikh teacher’s at the campus feel that a will to implement the decision to enforce Punjabi language is clearly lacking. That is why anti-Punjabi elements have been placed in important positions.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 29, 1992