On 21 February, 2017…
In the Cosy, Secure Lap of Mother Language Punjabi on her Day
As I looked at WhatsApp messages today morning, at the top was one by Canada based crusader of Punjabi language Sukhi Bath. It contained greetings by him to all on Mother Language Day. The next one was by Dr Ubha and many more. Many doing rounds on social media included about participation of Jagriti Manch in Jalandhar march…,calls by Kendri Lekhak Sabha for courting arrests for discrimination against Punjabi in Chandigarh and so on.
I felt refreshed, really good and inspired in the morning seeing all the lovers, well-wishers of mother tongue Punjabi expressing their concerns with a nagging itch to do something for its conservation, promotion in collective and their own personal little ways. All this stirred a deep churning inside. I realize I owe it everything personal and professional. I have been living off it as a journalist. I also realise I can’t repay at all what it has given me in life so far.
There have been instances earlier of being overwhelmed by urges to contribute my bit of responsibility towards my mother tongue. Tried many a time, depending on time and places, and still the urge remains the same.
After putting in a great deal of thinking, I decided to send across the link of new Punjabi software (Indic Word Processor)-Akhar-2016 to friends and lovers of Punjabi using it in whatever way on their computers and the Internet. This software has been developed by Ankur Rana and his team under the guidance of Dr GS Lehal of Punjabi University, Patiala. It has been hailed as the best and ultra-modern means of Punjabi’s online use. It is the first of its kind that provides one-stop facility of Punjabi, Shahmukhi, Hindi, English and Urdu typing in addition to translation, transliteration, spell-check and OCR even .
The salient feature is that it has solved the big problem of Punjabi fonts. It facilitates automatic typing in Unicode font from whichever font one types on computer. This removes the necessity of installing the font in which the text of the message appears on one’s mobile phone, Laptop or Desktop. Its spell-checker too is quite useful.
It contains a number of tools related to inter-connection of the Punjabi with Roman, Devnagri and Shahmukhi scripts. These tools are also of immense usefulness related to Hindi, Urdu and English. Though Google has provided for Roman-Gurmukhi trans-script but needs Internet connection to work. But one faces no such handicap in using this software. Once installed, it can be used at will on one’s Desktop or Laptop.
In my considered view, the Punjabi can be protected and promoted; connected with the new generation if it’s accepted that any language evolves with time. Secondly, it becomes the language of professional employment. Thirdly, it should be kept flexible enough to absorb and assimilate the prevalent vocabulary of mainstream languages of the world particularly English. And lastly, it should have tools to facilitate its daily use for communication in the prevailing Information Technology era.
There are many experts who have made significant contributions to make the language contemporarily relevant by developing Punjabi fonts and software. I must acknowledge the giant technical impetus given to it by Dr Lehal’s team which has developed software like Akhar-2016.
I use this software in my daily use of the Punjabi for professional and personal purposes but today I would like to disclose that I don’t know typing. But I have been using computer/laptop to write for the last about 13 years. I often say that I have learnt use of computer and Internet by hit and trial method. Since 2004 when Dr Lehal introduced Akhar as Word Processor, I have been using it to do my daily work in Punjabi by Roman typing. The writeup in hand too has been written this way.
Though it’s required to formally learn typing/composing with fingers of both hands to attain optimum typing speed but lack of this skill should not be anymore a cause of worry. Install Akhar-2016, type in Roman and have a ready text in Punjabi!.
On the occasion of International Mother Tongue Day , I am sharing link of Akhar-2016 which may be downloaded by all those wanting to read and write in Punjabi on computer.
If there is any difficulty in installing it, you may contact Ankur Rana at his mobile phone number .
Link: http://akhariwp.com/
Microsoft Drive Link :
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ap099QpXCyhhhVXP64ZR-kIXlfQ6
Google Drive Link :
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B6RCOsZdbRTKTUtZTU1nV193aFE
Contact :
Ankur Rana : 98761-95090
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February 21, 2017
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Baljit Balli, Editor, Babushahi.com
tirshinazar@gmail.com
Phone No. : 9915177722
Disclaimer : The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the writer/author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Babushahi.com or Tirchhi Nazar Media. Babushahi.com or Tirchhi Nazar Media does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.