SAHIWAL, Dec 17: The Indian constitution has granted official status to 16 languages which also include Punjabi, while the language is the medium of instruction in educational institutions of East Punjab.

This was stated by Indian columnist Kuldip Nayar in his address at a seminar, ‘Punjab Lok Boli Sangat’, held on Friday evening at the Mission Hospital auditorium.

In connection with the significance of mother tongue, Mr Nayar recalled his meeting with Sheikh Mujeebur Rehman, where the columnist asked the politician about the major cause of separation of country’s eastern wing in 1971. Sheikh Mujeeb replied that in the beginning, there was only one demand of East Pakistanis that there mother language (Bengali) be given the official status, but the Punjab-dominated legislature did not accede to it. Later, he said, the demands multiplied and Bangladesh came into existence.

Mr Nayar said West Punjab people should preserve their identity through their mother language to pave way for unification of the Punjab, as the borderline between the two wings was vanishing.

Shafqat Tanveer Mirza, an expert on Punjab’s culture and history, said so-called top languages of English, Urdu etc cannot become identity of Pakistan. He said the language issue caused separation East Pakistan from the rest of the country.

Mr Mirza said under a conspiracy Punjab was being targeted on each and every issue. For instance, he said, it was being said the army belonged to Punjab, Kalabagh dam was in Punjab’s interest, and worst of all that the Punjabi language ruled other provinces. He said the people of NWFP, Balochistan and Sindh used their mother languages to communicate with each other, while the Punjabis hesitated to speak their language as if they were put under some inferiority complex.

Mrs Afzal Tauseef, a senior Punjabi short story writer, in her speech demanded that Punjabi be given official status along with the languages of other three provinces. She also called for strengthening relations with Indian Punjab through exchange of delegations. She said such moots could bring the people again into one fold.

District Nazim Rai Hassan Nawaz said on the occasion that he would set up a Punjabi book library in the district and move the Punjab government for introduction of classes in Punjabi language in schools and the colleges of the district.

ARRESTED: Dera Rahim police arrested three prayer leaders for delivering provocative speeches at chak 145/9-L on Saturday.