NO one can deny the metanoic impact of Punjabi Sufi poetry. Who can insulate the heart against the mesmerising effect of Punjabi poetry of Waris Shah, Bulleh Shah, Mian Muhammad Bukhsh and others of the ilk?

Their poetry also covers a wide range of social, romantic, as well as spiritual subjects. It all proves that Punjabi is an all embracing language, capable of communicating human emotions of all ages and genders.

Pop and contemporary music streams have made folk Punjabi appealing to the young generation. However, the obsession of Punjabi humorous poetry with miso- gynistic themes, aired on media, is seriously hurting the cause of the language.

Such poetry unmistakably hovers around the traditional wife, the mother-in-law and their tantrums. This is called the localisation of a language.

One is piqued to think whether there are not enough subjects for Punjabi poetry that can make people laugh away their worries of modern life.

In a way, as the Punjabi humorous poetry is super-dominated by male poets, our women feel marginalised for their familial role as the disruptors of family life and spoilers of matrimonial bliss.

Unpalatably, no poetess of mentionable repute of Punjabi humorous poetry is visible on the horizon. Limiting such poetry to one streak of human relations is actually a disgrace to Punjabi that has already suf-fered a great deal when used as a language of vulgarity by local theatre artists.

In English-medium schools across the province, Punjabi is often despised and treated as a language of lower social strata. Even families in Punjab avoid speaking in the native language with their children.

Some myths have lashed a real blow to the sublimity of Punjabi. One is that jokes are better cracked in Punjabi. Otherwise, they lose their hilarity.

Similarly, risque expressions as well as profanities are considered better expressed in Punjabi. These are nothing but myths.

Unfortunately, the language is strug-gling to attract the serious attention of the provincial government to be declared the medium of instruction in Punjab.

So far, it is only offered as an elective subject. As such, within the education sector, Punjabi is the orphan of Punjab.

M. Nadeem Nadir
Kasur

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2024