CONTENTS

1. History of Punjabi Language- Background.

2. Introduction.

 Pakistan and all over the world.

3. Geographic Distribution.

4. Dialects.

5. Etymology.

6. Type of Punjabi Language.

7. Difference between Urdu and Punjabi Language.

8. Arabic and Persian Influence on Punjabi Language.

9. Writing System.

10. Literature Development.

11. Punjabi Language spoken in other cities of Pakistan.

12. Famous Dance and Famous Festivals.

13. Different names of Scholar Poets.

14. Famous Poet of Punjabi Language.

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In preparation of my assignment, I had to take the help and guidance of some respected
persons, who deserve my deepest gratitude. As the completion of this assignment gave me
much pleasure, I would like to show my gratitude to Mam Soubia, Department of Pakistan
Studies, Hazara University Mansehra, for giving me a good guideline throughout number of
consultations.

I would also like to expand my gratitude to all those who have directly and indirectly guided
me in writing this assignment.
1. History of Punjabi Language

Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan Language developed from old Indo-Aryan Language, which were
closely related to Vedic Sanskrit and Classical Sanskrit. By 300 BC old Aryan Language
develop into many local dialects known as Middle Indo-Aryan Literary. From these dialects
was known as Prakrit, Shauraseni used in Eastern Punjab and Kaikeyi used in Western
Punjab were among the famous Prakrits of ancient Indian Subcontinent. By 500 AD these
Middle Indo-Aryan dialects had been developed many local features and lost many inflection
morphemes.

Literary form of these is known as Apabhramsha principle. Apabhramshas are Takka

Apbhramsha in Central Punjab and Vrachada Apabhramsh in Southern Punjab. By 1200 AD
these apabhramshas or corrupt had few inflectional morphemes left. During middle ages
Takka Apabhramsha develop into Lahori dialect and Vrachade Apabhramsha developed into
Multani dialect.

2. Introduction.

Punjabi Language .

Punjab is the word derived from (Persian) ‫ فارسی‬word: Punj+aab= Punjab → Punj→ means
Land of five water → Aab means water.

 Word Punjab means Land of five water.

Punjabi Language developed from ‘Sasnkrit’ through ‘ Prakrit’ language. Punjabi is the
local language of the province of Punjab, which is the biggest province of Pakistan.

Pakistan and all over the world.

 According to a survey report, 14 to 15 crore peoples spoke in Punjabi Language.

 Punjabi is the native language of about 130 million people, and is the 10th most
spoken language in the world. Most of the people who speak this language live in
Punjab region of Pakistan and India.
 Punjab= 75% Baluchistan= 2% Islamabad= 17% Sindh= 6%
KPK= 0%
3. Geographic Distribution.

 Punjabi is the most widely spoken language in the Pakistan and is the provincial
language in the province of Punjab in Pakistan.
 Punjabi is spoken as native language by over 44.15% of Pakistanis – and about70%
of the people of Pakistan speak Punjabi, as either their first or second language and
same as their third language.
 86% of the total population of Lahore and Islamabad is native Punjabi.
 In India, Punjabi is spoken as a native language by 3% of the population. This was
about 33 million in 2011. It is the official language of the states of Indian Punjab and
Haryana.

4. Dialects

DIALECTS

Sariki

Saki Pothowari Manji Shahgoi Shahmukhi

Accents of Punjabi Language.

 The major dialects of Punjabi include: Manji, Saki, Sariki, Pothowari, Shahghoi,
Daabi, Malwai, Powadhi and Multani etc.
 Pashto
9%
Urdu
11%

Baluchi
12% Punjabi
68%

Pakistan’s Languages.

5. Etymology

The word Punjabi sometimes spelled Punjabi has been derived from the word
Punj-ab water referring to the five major eastern tributaries of the Indus River.

Punjabi Language

Countries spoken in : India, Pakistan.

Writing System : Shahmukhi Alphabet.

Main country: Pakistan, India.

6. Types of Punjabi Language

Type of Punjabi
Language
Type of Punjabi Language

Indo-European Indo-Aryan Indo-Iranian

Language Langugae Langugae.

7. Difference between Urdu and Punjabi Language.

Punjabi has a slight similarity with Urdu. Most of the Urdu speaking people can understand
written Punjabi with certain difficulties but will find it hard to understand the written script.
Punjabi which comes in Shahmukhi and Gurmukhi script is an Indo-Aryan.

8. Arabic and Persian Influence on Punjabi Language.

Arabic and Persian influence on Punjabi is noteworthy that the Hindustani Language is
divided into Hindi, with more Sanskritstion and Urdu, with more Persianisation, but in
Punjabi both Sanskrit and Persian words are used with a liberal approach to language.

9. Writing System.

The Punjabi Language is written in multiple script. Each of the major scripts currently in use
is typically associated with a particular religious group.[44] [45]. Although, this association is
not absolute or exclusive.[46] In India, Punjabi Sikhs use Gurmakhi a script of the Brahmic
family which has official status in the state of Punjab. In Pakistan, Punjabi Muslims use
Shahmukhi a variant of the Perso -Arabic Script and closely related to the Urdu alphabet.

Historically, various local Brahmic script including Landa and its descendants were also in
use [49] [50], the Punjabi Braille is used by the visually impaired.
10. Literature Development

(i) Mughal and Sikh Period

The earliest Punjabi literature is found in the fragments of writings of the 11th century Nath
Yogis. Gorakshanath and Charpatnah which is primarily spiritual and mystical in tone.

Faridudin Ganjshakar(1179-1266) is generally recognized as the first major poet of the

Punjabi Language[51]. Roughly, from the 12th century to the 19th century, many great Sufi
Saints and poets preached in Punjabi language, the most prominent being Bullah Shah.
Punjabi Sufi poetry also developed and Shah Hussain(1538-1599),Sultan Bahu(1830-1891),
Shah Sharaf(1640-1724), Ali Haider(1690-1785), Waris Shah, Muhammad Safoori and other
poets’ worked in the development of Punjabi Literature.

(ii) British Raj Era and Post-Independence Period

The Victorian Novel, Elizabethan drama, free verse and Modernism entered Punjabi
Literature through the introduction of British education during the Raj, Nanak Singh(1897-
1971), Vir Singh, Ishwan Nanda, Amrita Pritarn (1919-2005), Puran Singh(1881-1931)
Dhani Ram Chatrik (1876-1957), Diwan Singh(197-1944) and Ustaad Daman (1911-1984)
are some legendary writers of this period.

After Independence of Pakistan and India Najm Hossein Syed Fakhar Zaman and Afzal
Ahsan Randhawa, Pir Hadi Abdul Mannan, enriched Punjabi literature in Pakistan, whereas
Amrita Pritan (1919-2005), Jaswan Singh(1930-1996) etc. are some of the more prominent
poets and writers from India.

11. Punjabi Language spoken in other cities of Pakistan.

(1) Lahore (2) Faisalabad (3) Gujranwala (4) Sargodha (5) Rawalpindi (6) Shekhupura
(7) Multan (8) Bahawalpur. Etc.

12. Famous Dance and Famous Festivals.

Bhangra:

It is the main Punjabi Folk dance for females is giddha or giddhah and for men or for both
men and women is bhangda or bhangra.
Famous Festivals.

Lohari

There are numerous festivals celebrated in Punjab with important ones being Baisakhi, Lidri,
Hulla, Mohala, Maghi.

Festival Gurg Nanak Jayantian Basant Panchami Feb 18. Main festivals of Punjabi; Punjab
region- Baisakhi, Basant and Lohari.

13. Different names of Scholar Poets.

Mosoodi called its Multani, Al-Beruni called its Multani, Gurag Nanak called its Zabab-e-
Jattan. Hafiz Bargudar first person who name is called Punjabi language in 17th century in
his book names Muft-ul-Fikha wrote in Punjabi Language.

14. Famous Poet of Punjabi Language.

(1) Sheikh Ibrahim Farid Shani.

(2) Baba Fareed Gunj-Baksh.

(3) Bullay Shah.

(4) Waris Shah.

Baba Fareed Gunj-Baksh

He was born in 1173 Kothwal. Full name, Farid-al-din-Massdin Ganj-Shakar.

Died= 1266 in Pakpattan.

Buried= Shrine of Baba Farid.

Famous Books of Baba Farid Gunj-Baksh:

(1) Kashaf-ul-Asrar.

(2) Kashaf-ul-Mahjab.

(3) Maslak Hazrat Data Gunj in English Book (Love is own Power)
Baullay Shah

Bullay Shah was a Mughal era Punjabi Islami philosopher and Sufi Poet Bullay Shah was
born 1680-Uch Sharif and died in 1757 Kasur.

Full name : Syed Abdullah Shah Qadri.

Buried = Kasur.

Poems = 33.

Famous Book: Diwan-e-Baba Bullah Shah.

Ghazal

(1) Tere ishq Nachaya karke Thaya-Thaya.

(2) Ranjha Ranjha Kardi hun aupe Ranjha Hui.

Waris Shah

Waris Shah was a Punjabi Sufi Poet of Punjabi Language. Waris Shah was born 0n 23
January 1722 Jandila Sharkhan.

Died = 1798 Malka Hans.

Buried = Waris Shah Tomb.

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Conclusion

Punjabi Language is very famous in Pakistan. It is the third largest spoken language in the
world. It is also spoken in India’s huge contents. Its roots are very deep in the history.

Reference

 www.wikipedia.
 Slide Share.
 Lecture of Mam Soubia.