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Midwest Punjabis honor language and heritage in Illinois
The event was held as part of International Mother Language Day, first proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity around the globe.
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Staff Reporter
- Mon, 07, Apr 2025
- 15:59 EDT
- 120
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There was special focus on Punjabi literature and heritage at the event. / Asian Media USA
American Punjabis from across the midwest gathered in Schaumburg on April 6 to honor their native language Punjabi.
The event was organized at the National India Hub by the Punjabi Community of the US Midwest to commemorate International Mother Language Day.
With a special emphasis on Punjabi literature and heritage, the event featured authors, poets, and thinkers reciting their works and discussing the literary significance of Punjabi, a language with a rich 5,500-year history.
Dignitaries, Special Guests and Performers with the organizers of the event. / Asian Media USADr. Atamjit, recipient of the Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards, Ravinder Singh Sahra, Raj Lally Batala, Kashish Hoshiarpuri, Sajid Chaudhary, Abid Rasheed, Rakind Kaur, Gurleen Kaur, Tahira Rida, Amrit Pal Kaur, Gurbaksh Randhawa, and Ghulam Mustafa Anjum were among those in attendance.
Consul General of India in Chicago, Somnath Ghosh served as the event’s chief guest. In his remarks, he commended the performers and expressed emphasized the significance of such events especially as many regional languages, including Punjabi and Bengali, face the threat of extinction due to global economic and digital forces.
Consul General of India in Chicago, Somnath Ghosh served as the event’s chief guest. / Asian Media USA
“We must use technology, especially AI, to preserve and promote our languages,” he urged while encouraging the community to develop localized Punjabi content and make it accessible online. “If we don’t take the initiative, no one else will,” he said. He envisioned a future where AI enables seamless translation, connecting people across languages while preserving their roots.
Echoing the same sentiments, Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, the event’s chief patron and Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Samman Awardee, said, “Punjabi is more than just a language. It is the soul of our traditions, songs, folklore, and everyday expressions. It is our duty to nurture it, especially for the younger generations growing up abroad.”
Convenor Raj Lally Batala reflected on the community’s growing interest in such events stating, “In 2021, 2022, 2023, and even in 2024, our Punjabi community showed immense enthusiasm and support for this cultural celebration. With each year, participation has grown stronger, and tonight is a testimony to the commitment we all share in keeping our language alive.”
Other key organizing team members included Kamlesh Kapoor (joint coordinator), Rajinder Singh Mago, Kuljeet Dyalpuri, Gurmukh Singh Bhullar, Charandeep Singh, Jasmeet Singh, Jasbir Mann, PS Mann, Aman Kullar, Jigerdeep Singh Dhillon, Narinder Sra, Rajinder Dayal, Surjit Sallan, Harjinder Jindi, and Amardev Bandesha.
Apart from the literary performances, the event featured musical performances celebrating folk heritage and panel discussions on the significance of language preservation in diaspora communities. It concluded with a community dinner, which reflected the essence of Punjabi hospitality.
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