Army Schools Punjabi Row: Writers, Artists and Journalists Protest Against Bias Towards Punjabi
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, May 22, 2026:
A good number of writers, intellectuals, journalists, farmer leaders, politicians, filmmakers, social activists, and pro-Punjabi people from Punjab and Chandigarh staged a protest dharna at Sector 17, Chandigarh, to raise their voice against alleged discrimination towards the Punjabi language in Punjab, especially in the curriculum of Army schools in the state.
The protest was organized under the banner of the Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha. Participants strongly opposed a recent move reportedly giving preference to Sanskrit over Punjabi in the curriculum of Army schools functioning in Punjab. Protesters termed the decision discriminatory and unacceptable and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the circular. They reiterated that Punjabi must remain central to education and public life in the state.
Speakers at the gathering also expressed concern over what they described as the gradual sidelining of Punjabi in major institutions of the state, including Panjab University. They alleged that Punjabi was not being given its rightful place in administrative and academic functioning.
The protesters strongly demanded the effective implementation of the Punjab Official Language Act, 2008, and called for Punjabi to be made compulsory up to Class 10 in all government, semi-government, private, and affiliated schools, including CBSE and ICSE institutions. They also sought strict implementation of official language provisions, including accountability for officials not working in Punjabi, and reiterated the demand for court proceedings to be conducted in the mother tongue.
The gathering also raised long-pending demands, including the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab and the handing over of the administrative control of Panjab University to the Punjab government.
Prominent writers, journalists, and public intellectuals, including Swarajbir Singh, Hameer Singh, and several other cultural figures, addressed the protest and emphasized that the struggle for Punjabi language rights must continue in a united and sustained manner.
The protest began with opening remarks by Darshan Buttar and was conducted by noted storyteller Deep Devinder Singh, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Yatinder Kaur Mahal. A memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister was submitted through the Punjab Governor, listing the key demands raised by the writers’ body.
Among those who addressed the gathering were Dr. Swarajbir Singh, Hameer Singh, Jagtar Bhullar, Makkhan Kuhar, Dr. Sarbjit Singh, Deepak Sharma Charanarthal, Balkar Sidhu, MLA Pargat Singh, and Giani Kewal Singh, among others.
Speaking in one voice, the speakers strongly emphasized, with reference to the Punjab Official Language Act, 2008, that Punjabi must be made a compulsory subject up to Class 10 in all government, semi-government, private, public, CBSE, and ICSE schools in the state.
Some of the prominent persons who participated in the dharna included Sailinderjit Singh Rajan, Babushahi editor Baljit Balli, Surinderpreet Ghaniyan, Daljit Singh Sahi, Mool Chand Sharma, Dr. Paramjit Bath, Surjit Judge, Harmeet Vidyarthi, Sukhdev Sirsa, Manjit Singh Vasi, Gurmeet Bajwa, Gurpreet Rangeelpur, Dr. Lekh Raj, Boota Ram Azad, Makkhan Bhainiwal, Dharam Singh Dhianpuri, Surinder Gill, Harpreet Virk, Arvinder Kakra, Pammi Devedi, Anil Fatehgarh, Surinder Kheeva, Gursewak Dhillon, Raman Sandhu, Hazara Singh Cheema, Dr. Manjit Singh Ball, Angrez Virdi, Devi Dayal Sharma, Gurinder Kalsi, Gurdev Pal Kaur, Dr. Kuldeep Puri, Sucha Singh Pathanawal, Rajwinder Kaur, and Swaraj Sandhu.
The participants concluded the protest with a call for greater public awareness and urged people across Punjab to remain vigilant and united in protecting and promoting the Punjabi language in all spheres of public life.
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