Punjabi Language Week will be celebrated annually in schools across New Zealand, starting this month.
“We have permission from the New Zealand Ministry of Education to celebrate Punjabi Language Week in primary and intermediate schools throughout NZ,” said Navneet Kaur Braich, chairperson of the Wellington Punjabi Women Association. “It will be celebrated every year from November 21 – 27.”
This was announced at an event held by the association at the Indian High Commission premises in Wellington on November 19.
The core members of the association are Karminder Kaur, Sarab Gurmeet Kaur, Harpuneet Kaur Batth, Jasdeep Kaur, and Braich.
High Commission Second Secretary Durga Dass, while unveiling the Punjabi language poster released on the occasion , highlighted the rich linguistic tradition of India, with "recognition accorded to 22 official languages, though India is home to more than 100 languages."
“Wherever a language is growing, or any State is growing, India is growing,” he noted.
“It is the endeavour of the [Indian] High Commission that we should promote each and every language of India,” Second Secretary Dass added.
The New Zealand Police marked its presence at the event, with Phil Pithyou, Ethnic Senior Engagement Advisor, acknowledging the role of the association in promoting woman empowerment.
He spoke of the need to raise awareness within the NZ police about Sikh community practices, such as bearing the kirpan.
“Some of the [members of the] security at the T20 [cricket match] said they didn’t understand the kirpan. There was an opportunity for me and a colleague to educate some of our police staff as to what Sikhism is….. the five Ks, the five important elements of your [Sikh] faith.”
Pithyou said he was able to convince his fellow police officers that the Sikh faith stood for “justice and the defence of others.”
Raj Bhullar, Senior Partnerships Advisor – Ethnic Iwi and Community, a Punjabi-speaking officer, recalled his journey as a young lad learning to speak the Punjabi language. He spoke of the sense of empowerment that came from knowing the mother tongue, which also contributed to his success within the NZ Police.
Yumi Nguyen, Acting National Partnerships Manager, Ethnic Iwi and Communities, noted that “a big part of the work we are doing is making sure that people can be themselves and celebrate other cultures as well.”
Prof Kirpal Singh emphasised the link between Punjabi and Gurmukhi. “There are only two universities in the world that are named after a language. One is the Hebrew University in Israel. The second one is the Punjabi University in Patiala,” he pointed out. The professor traced the origin and history of the teaching of Punjabi and Gurmukhi .
Next up, Jaspreet Saini recited a poem that captured the rustic ethos of the villages of Punjab.
Dr Amarjeet Kamal, gynaecologist at the Hutt Hospital, who spoke next, applauded the efforts of the association.
Dr Kamal was followed on stage by Manisha Morar, who spoke on behalf of the Wellington Indian Association (WIA) and also the New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA). Morar said children were crucial to the retention of heritage and that “cultural appreciation needed to start at the school level.”
The programme was compered by Harjeet Kaur from Radio Spice, who came up with quips that had the audience in stitches, including the popular one among Punjabi couples, that “husbands are the best people to share secrets with because, whenever you are talking to your husband, they aren’t even listening to you.”
The programme concluded with the distribution of prizes to the winners of a quiz contest for adults and a writing activity for children.
Food and beverages were provided by Gayatri Pariwar Wellington, a social service organisation that follows the teachings of Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya .
