Punjabi should be taught from nursery, says acting jathedar of Akal Takht

Amritsar: Acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, has urged the Punjab government to make Punjabi language education compulsory from the nursery level in schools.

Speaking at the Hola Mohalla event, he said that the challenges he had previously highlighted regarding the Punjabi language are now becoming evident.

He expressed concern over reports from several CBSE-affiliated schools in Punjab, where English and Hindi have been made compulsory while Punjabi remains optional. He described this as an intolerable situation that reflects a growing neglect of the Punjabi language.

“In such circumstances, it is essential to ensure that Punjabi is taught in every school of Punjab from the nursery level,” he said, adding that most schools introduce Punjabi only from Class 1, which, according to him, keeps children away from their mother tongue. He urged the Punjab government to enforce Punjabi education in all schools from the nursery level.

Beyond government intervention, he emphasized that parents also have a role in encouraging their children to learn Punjabi from an early age. While acknowledging the importance of learning other languages, he stressed that the mother tongue should not be sidelined.