BARNALA, (Sangrur), July 31 — A State level convention of college lectures in Punjabi held here today strongly denounced the lowering of the status of Punjabi in the State universities and colleges by introducing it as a “communication skill’ subject instead of teaching it as a compulsory subject under the new education policy and demanded the teaching of Punjabi as a compulsory subject up to the graduate level.
The convention passed a resolution stressing the need for Punjabi to understand the philosophy of religion, economics, political science, social science and culture.
Decrying the reduction of periods for teaching the language from six to three, the convention felt that it would lead to a retrenchment of Punjabi teachers.
The convention alleged there was a “well planned and deep rooted conspiracy to suppress the Punjabi language and culture.”
It called upon the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, the Government College Lecturers Association and other organizations of college teachers, writers and intellectuals to come forward to fight against the “onslaught” on the Punjabi Language and culture.
By another resolution, the convention demanded the lifting of the ban imposed on the teachers of Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana, for issuing any statement on the issue.
A three member ad hoc committee with Prof Pritam Singh Rahi as convener and comprising Dr. Ram Singh (Gurusar Sudhar) and Prof Bhupinder Singh Grover (Mansa) was formed to chalk out an action programme to get redressed this “injustice” by involving all sections of Punjabi writers, scholars, intellectuals and teachers.
All speakers, who participated in the discussion, alleged that Punjabi had been getting a step motherly treatment in the State under President’s rule.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 19, 1988
