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Since 1947, the Indian Government has started a shameless tirade against the state of Panjab by targeting a vital aspect of our identity, our maa boli [mother tongue]. In this track, it is the language of Panjab that is singing to us, pleading with us not to let the Indian government win. The Indian governments anti-Punjab lobby has ensured that titles of films are not written in Panjabi [only Hindi and Urdu] to signify their contempt for our language. Moreover, when the states reorganisation commission altered states according to their language after ‘independence’, Panjab was the only state that wasn’t recognised. Over 100, 000 people had to court arrest for Panjab to be recognised as a Panjabi speaking state. To this day, there is a concerted effort being made to ensure that Panjabi is eroded to pave the way for the national language.
Nevertheless, to what extent are we as the youth a part of this war against Panjab? We would much prefer to talk with friends and our family in English. How many of us have made a concerted effort to learn to read and write in Panjabi, particularly when so many of our brothers and sisters protested and died for that privilege. This not only has a detrimental impact on our relationship with Panjab, but will ultimately severe the ties between the next generation and Panjab. In this song, Panjab is asking for her lions to return to their den, and send an almighty roar to Delhi, a roar that echoes in the ears of all of Panjab’s enemies. |
