Punjabi is our mother tongue and integral part of culture: Ijaz Alam Augustine

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Human Rights & Minority Affairs Ijaz Alam Augustine has said that Punjabi is our mother tongue and an integral part of our culture. Poets and religious leaders conveyed the message of love and unity through their mother tongue.

He said that Punjab has a literary tradition spanning over a thousand years and if we talk about Baba Guru Nanak, he attracted the local people towards peace and brotherhood by communicating in their mother tongue. He said that the Punjabi language having knowledge and wisdom in the form of poetry of Sufis, by following we can achieve success while we need to promote messages of Sufis regarding love and tolerance. These views were expressed by the provincial minister while addressing the 4th International Punjabi Language Conference at Lahore College for Women here today. Topic of conference was language, literature, art, TV and culture while speakers from more than seven different countries, experts in Punjabi language, faculty members and important personalities related to culture participated in the conference. Conference began with a keynote speech by chairperson of Punjabi department Dr Mujahidah Butt. VC LCWU Dr Bushra Mirza delivered welcome note and told the participants that in 2017, LCWU established chair of Baba Guru Nanak and Punjabi Hamd-o-Naat to promote Punjabi tongue. She said that in Punjabi department all the staff having PHD in Punjabi and first ever in the history of Punjab, dictionary of Punjabi being introduced by this department which was a great achievement. She said that various essays, speeches, poetry, music, theater etc will be included in the three-day conference to promote Punjabi culture. The minister Ijaz Alam in his address appreciated efforts of LCWU to promote Punjabi culture and congratulated the administration of LCWU to organize conference. He said that the Punjab has a rich literary tradition spread over one thousand years. For the holistic development of the child it is important to encourage creativity and originality, which is possible only when children are taught in their mother tongues. He gave examples of Baba Fareed, Guru Nanak, and many others who mobilised people only by communicating with the local people in their own language. He also wished best of luck to LCWU and hoped that series of these types initiatives will continue in future also. Dr. Farida, Director, Institute of Languages, Dr Mujahida Butt, Director Affairs Mrs. Bushra Nadeem, Associate Professor Punjabi Dr. Samina Batool, Dr. Hina Khan, Dr. Sonia Allah Rakha, Miss Almas Aiza and others were also present in the conference.