Increasing numbers of Indo-Canadian youths are studying Punjabi and Hindi in order to preserve their Indian heritage and maintain their links with their mother country.
TORONTO: Increasing numbers of Indo-Canadian youths are studying Punjabi and Hindi in order to preserve their Indian heritage and maintain their links with their mother country.
A number of universities, schools and other organisations in Canada are offering courses in Indian languages in order to connect the people of Indian origin with their motherland, according to Prof Jag Mohan Kumar of the Carleton University in Ottawa.
For Sakshi Sharma (19), a student of Humber College in Toronto who participated in last month’s ‘Know India Programme’ organised by the Indian Ministry of Overseas Affairs, learning Hindi helps to know India better.
“I learnt Hindi in Hindu Temple in Brampton and it was a fascinating experience,” she said.
‘Know India Programme’ has revived interest in Hindi and given me a first hand opportunity to know Indian culture and heritage and technological transformation that is going on in the country better, Sharma said.
“Learning of Hindi helps to know where I came from and why I follow the Indian tradition. I even have more pride inbeing Indian,” she said.
Similarly, for Daljit Singh Mahal, a student of University of British Columbia, learning Punjabi helps in being connected to his culture and heritage. Since last year, the 21-year-old has been taking Punjabi classes at the university, in addition to his science major.
Though Mahal, who lives in Burnaby with parents and grandparents, spoke Punjabi, the classes have greatly aided his proficiency and opened up the world of Punjabi-Canadian literature. “It has improved my vocabulary for sure, and in terms of reading and writing, I didn’t know how to do that at all before. Now I can,” Mahal said.
Sadhu Binning a renowned Punjabi author, as well as long-time UBC professor, says the Punjabi literary community in Canada is thriving, with about 400 books published over the last three decades.
“What is interesting with Punjabi literature is that the majority of the people that are living in Canada and writing either poetry or fiction, about 95 per cent of the time they are writing about their experience in Canada,” said Binning.
Binning sees Punjabi language education as a tool to connect younger Indo-Canadians with the stories of their parents and grandparents.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}