Punjabi Community from across the Midwest region gathered at the National India Hub in Schaumburg, Illinois, on April 6, 2025, to mark International Mother Language Day with a vibrant celebration of Punjabi literature, language, and heritage.

Hosted by the Punjabi Community of the US Midwest, the event featured an enriching mix of poetry, prose, cultural reflections, and concluded with a traditional community dinner. This year’s gathering held special significance as it coincided with the 25th anniversary of UNESCO’s proclamation of International Mother Language Day, first recognized in 1999 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity worldwide, according to a press release from Asian Media.

The program spotlighted the rich literary legacy of Punjabi, a language with over 5,500 years of documented history. Distinguished poets, authors, and intellectuals took the stage, including Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee Dr. Atamjit, as well as 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, among others.

Consul General of India in Chicago, Somnath Ghosh, in his address emphasized the importance of preserving mother tongues.

He expressed pride in seeing young children confidently perform in Punjabi on stage, calling it “the true spirit of International Mother Language Day.” Ghosh also highlighted the pressures regional languages face in the digital era, urging communities to leverage technology and artificial intelligence to preserve and promote native languages.

 “If we don’t take the initiative, no one else will. AI can be a powerful tool to bridge linguistic divides while honoring our roots,” he said. 

Chief Patron of the event and recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Samman, Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, echoed similar sentiments. “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,” he said.

The evening featured stirring Punjabi poetry recitations, folk music performances, and panel discussions on the role of language in shaping diaspora identity. Poets painted evocative scenes of Punjab’s landscapes, familial love, spiritual introspection, and social narratives that resonated deeply with the audience.

The event was coordinated by Dr. Harjinder Singh Khaira and convened by Raj Lally Batala, who noted the growing enthusiasm for the event each year. “With each year, participation has grown stronger, and tonight is a testimony to the commitment we all share in keeping our language alive,” Batala said. 

Key members of the organizing team 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.

The statement noted that the event sponsorship was led by Grand Sponsor Japneet Khaira, alongside supporters Gulzar Singh Multani, Bhupinder Singh Dhaliwal, Lucky Sahota, Mukhtiar Singh (Happy Heer), Parminder Singh Goldy, Amrik Singh (Amar Carpet), Dr. Vikram Gill, P.S. Mann, Darshan Singh Grewal, Brij Sharma, Sarvan Singh Mishvaka, Pal Singh Khalil, Kamlesh Kapoor, Dawinder S. Rangi, and Jaskaran Dhaliwal.

Punjabi remains one of the most spoken languages in India, with over 31 million speakers. Its influence, however, reaches far beyond South Asia, with vibrant Punjabi-speaking communities thriving across Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and beyond.

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