THE STATUS OF PUNJABI IN WEST PUNJAB
In the preceding discussion. we have tried to show that socio politico
economic circumstances were more in the way of development of Punjabi rather
than a cooked conspiracy by one part or the other. However, these conditions
have changed dramatically and Punjab is at the verge of accepting the language
of the land. This statement might be seen as day dreaming for the eternal
pessimists and skeptics but a scientific examination shows otherwise. In the
following section, I will try to give some key indicators that have been
associated with the development of languages and have been lacking in Punjabi
society.
(1) In our earlier discussion we noted that the socio plitico
economic conditions affect the development of languages. The expansion of
commerce and industry creates independent sectors and bulk of enlightened middle
classes. Such conditions may not be necessary for the development of a language,
however these conditions help the growth of the language. Punjab was
traditionally a farm land with almost no industry at time of independence. Most
of the population lived in self contained isolated village settlements. Urban
centers were few and inhabited by the administrative bureaucracy and a small
merchant class that was again dependent on agricultural communities. Punjab of
today has sizable industrial infrastructure and commercial classes have been
expanding. As a result, it has a large independent mined middle class a section
of which has nationalistic inclinations. We will haste to add that, calvinism
and hegemonic nationalism is still prevalent in Punjab, although it stands
firmly behind Urdu at the expense of Punjabi.
Furthermore, the globalization
of Pakistani economy, due to mass immigration into Middle East and the western
countries and proliferation of information technology has increased the use of
English. Nowadays, increasing number of lower middle class kids go to English
medium schools that has diminished the value of Urdu as a medium of
communication and as a process of gentrification. Now the shirwani and pajama
are being replaced with jeans and western style jackets. It appears that English
will become the language of business and state while Punjabi will fill the
vacuum created by Urdu.
In essence the changing conditions have resulted in
reconfiguration of social groups and economic classes. Unlike the past, Punjabi
has become the `party language' in the gentry gatherings, that has added to its
respectability. Furthermore, it has created a new political leadership that is
culturally different from the traditional elite. Mr Abdul Rashid Bhatti and Mr
Fazal Hussain Rahi are the early reflections of a political elite that is yet in
the making. This elite is more indigenous and more supportive of national
culture and language of Punjab. The emergence of such a political elite in
Punjab has a dynamic affect on the traditional ideological alliances between
different ethnic groups and nationalities.
It may not be empirically
evident, nonetheless, emergence of MQM is also a related to new configurations
of social groups in Pakistan and particularly in Punjab. Urdu speaking
immigrants have realized that they have to protect their cultural and linguistic
identity, that was taken for granted in the past. Inadvertently, it has made
Punjabis to realize that they should find their own identity which cannot be
found without owning one's culture and language.
(2) Media has also
contributed towards the changes in perceptions. The most popular serials of
Lahore TV are mostly those where the main characters represent Punjabi culture.
To the irritation of Punjabi intelligentsia, the language of these character is
Punjabiazed Urdu. However, such a Punjabiazed Urdu is Punjabi in the viewer's
perception. More importantly, the main characters in the TV serials have
replaced the tractional symbols like Nawab of UP etc. Punjabiazed Urdu is a
transitory stage, partly dictated by market mechanism, however we know that
mixing of Punjabi and Urdu has not succeeded in the past on literary level.
Zafar Iqbal (in
Gulaftab) and Afzal Jaafary did these experiment several years
back, but they did not succeed in triggering any major trend. Furthermore, the
structures of these languages are different from each other and cannot be
reconciled. Ultimately, Punjabi will replace Punjabiazed Urdu.
Punjabi has
been the choice language when the demand of an entertainment product is market
dependent. This is the reason that Punjabi Film has outnumbered Urdu films by a
staggering margin. Revolution in audio video technology has also changed the
market conditions in other forms of arts. Punjabi folk singers and semi
classical singers have started dominating the market. Since the popularity of
artists does not depend on the state sponsored media, the market oriented forces
have taken over. Shalimar Company or EMI produces and commercializes those
recordings which have a larger market. Now, the ghazal singers on a retreat
while the folk and kafi singers in Punjabi and Sindhis are the best sellers. The
situation has changed so dramatically, that even the best classical singers like
Ustad Salamat Ali Khan are obliged to use Punjabi kafi or other verses in
rendering different
raags. It is not the commoners who listen Atta Ullah Aisa
Khalvi in the buses and vans but the educated elites also listens more of
Pathana Khan and less of Mehdi
Hasan.
Incidently, Mr
Bhatti, the MPA from Rai
Wind also reported in the interview with Maan Booli that he kept listening
Pathana Khan's kafis for two years that changed his perspective about the
importance of Punjabi.
(3) Urdu language has been patronized by Pakistani
state on all levels. However, despite these efforts, it has not been able to
make it suitable for the expression and articulation of modern branches of
knowledge. It has inherent limitations and lacks dynamism that make a language
to create new word and phraseology as the needs change. The main problem is that
(a) its structure are taken from Persian and Arabic and therefore, it has go
back to Persian Arabic dictionaries to find proper terminology for the new needs
(b) It lacks mass participation that enriches the language. Most of the words
added to a language come from the production process. Since it is not the
language of working masses in Pakistan, it is deprived of this life source for a
language. Therefore, it will not be unreasonable to argue that Urdu has not and
will not be able to fulfill the needs of a changing society. Furthermore, some
knowledge of Persian is required for the appreciation of Urdu literature.
Iqbal,
Faiz and Fraz can be enjoyed only if one has a reasonable grooming in Persian.
With the passage of time, Persian is going out of circulation in Punjab. As a
result, the number of people who can appreciate niceties of Urdu language are
dwindling with every new generation. It is possible that, Faiz or Fraz will be
remembered in Punjab as much as the great Persian poets of seventeenth century
of North India. After all, we should remember that for almost ten centuries,
Persian was the only language that was used by the elite of this area. Did they
ever thought of Lahore of 1990s where the ruling elite knows all other languages
but Persian? In my opinion, Punjabi, will replace Urdu, the way Urdu replaced
Persian. (4) The quality and quantity of Punjabi writing has increased manifolds
in last two decades. Now, there are several emerging novelist and short story
writers. Enough material now exist for a Punjabi reader which was absent two
decades ago. Most importantly, a daily Punjabi newspaper was started from Lahore
and remained in circulation for almost two years. It was very well received
among the readers, however, it cold not be continued due to financial
difficulties. Furthermore, the management consisted of activists who lacked
organizational skills. Their efforts proved it beyond doubt, that if proper
resources are made available, Punjabi media will be more viable than its
competitive languages. It should be noted that except two Urdu daily newspapers,
most of the others, with huge staffs, are running on state subsidies.
Furthermore, the most successful newspapers are dependent upon the advertisement
which are mostly given and controlled by the government. Therefore, if state
stops subsidizing all newspapers or starts supporting Punjabi media, we will
have a level field in which Punjabi newspapers will be more successful than
others. It is a matter of time, that venture capital in Punjab is going to
discover this huge potential market which is already known to film makers. It
has been observed that major transformation in the history of a languages are
associated with writers who are enlightened, reformist/revolutionary in their
thinking, who have strong command of language and are persistent to continue
their work in all circumstances. Such intellectual usually, create a sustainable
network of writers and activists who can take the movement of the language
forward. Rabindar Nath
Tagoor, in Bengali, played this role. He would not have
exaggerate if he had claimed that his language was not developed but he
developed it. Punjabi has several committed scholars and creative writers.
However, fortunately, Najam Hussain
Syed, is one of those writers who have not
only inspired a whole generation of writers, he has created a conceptual
framework and a network of intelligentsia that can carry the burden for a long
time. (5) There are some negative indicators that point out that Punjabi is
going to be a major language of this area. The division between Sariaki and
Punjabi indicates the growing up process for both the languages. Thirty years
back, when Punjabi was considered a closed case, there were no apprehension on
the part of the intelligentsia of the western Punjab. However, as the
possibility of Punjabi being a realistic alternative in this region has
improved, western Punjab has started differentiating itself as a separate entity
distinguished from Punjabi. I agree with Balraj
Puri, an intellectual and
journalist of Jammun that" the friction between Punjabi and Sariaki shows that
both are reaching an age of maturity. When the children get older, they go their
own way .. Such a separation is a process of growing up and one should not be
scared of it". CONCLUSIONS Our search shows that the progress of Punjabi was
hindered mostly by internal factors. The conspiracy theory that blames the
Britishers and the Urdu speaking does not explain the phenomenon. Punjab was a
favored region in the British empire, however, its language was ignored for
reasons to be discovered yet. The domination of Urdu was not a religious
phenomenon because there were more non Muslim Urdu writers than Muslim Urdu
writers before 1947. Lahore's approximation to
Dehli, dissipations of Punjabi
nationalism due to historical circumstances and lack of independent enlightened
social groups can be identified as a partial explanation of the neglect of
Punjabi. The situation after 1947 has changed where Punjabi is used for all
practical purposes in East Punjab. A new configuration of social and political
groups are more helpful for the progress of Punjabi. Punjabi has out shined
other languages in Punjab where the market forces are in control, however, the
state patronage in form of open and hidden subsidies to other languages has a
negative impact on Punjabi. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that Punjabi
is ready to become the language of Punjab, if the state intervention in form of
patronage and subsidizing, directly and indirectly, of other languages is
terminated. Furthermore, the socio political condition are ripe for the upsurge
of Punjabi, even if the state does not change its course voluntarily. This
argument is further strengthened by the fact that Punjabi language has developed
an intellectual infrastructure required for the historical role it is destined
to play.
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