SURYADEV

Just replace her name with Mrs Kaur, her language as Panjabi (Gurmukhi), her tribe as Panjabi. And this my fellows is the exact report your great, great grandhildren will be reading in years to come: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17537845 Nepal's mystery language on the verge of extinction By Bimal GautamBBC News, Nepal Gyani Maiya Sen, a 75-year-old woman from western Nepal, can perhaps be forgiven for feeling that the weight of the world rests on her shoulders. She is the only person still alive in Nepal who fluently speaks the Kusunda language. The unknown origins and mysterious sentence structures of Kusunda have long baffled linguists. As such, she has become a star attraction for campaigners eager to preserve her dying tongue. Madhav Prasad Pokharel, a professor of linguistics at Nepal's Tribhuwan University, has spent a decade researching the vanishing Kusunda tribe. Professor Pokharel describes Kusunda as a "language isolate", not related to any common language of the world. "There are about 20 language families in the world," he said, "among them are the Indo-European, Sino-Tibetan and Austro-Asiatic group of languages. "Kusunda stands out because it is not phonologically, morphologically, syntactically and lexically related to any other languages of the world. 'Very sad' He warns that if the Kusunda language becomes extinct, "a unique and important part of our human heritage will be lost forever". Even if some of the lofty intellectual arguments for preserving the Kusunda language are lost on Ms Sen, she is acutely aware of how its demise affects her personally. "Fortunately I can also speak Nepali, but I feel very sad for not being able to speak my own language with people from my own community," she said. "Although there are still other people from the Kusunda tribe still alive, they neither understand nor speak the language. "Other Kusunda people... can only speak a few Kusunda words, but can't communicate [fully] in the language." Ms Sen fears there will be no-one to speak the Kusunda language after her death. "The Kusunda language will die with me," she reflects, while lamenting the failure of the government and academics to help transfer the language to the next generation. Although no detailed figures are available, the Central Bureau of Statistics says that only about 100 Kusunda tribespeople remain - but only Ms Sen can speak the language fluently. A few years ago, there were two other people - from a mid-western Nepalese village - who spoke the Kusunda language fluently. They were Puni Thakuri and her daughter Kamala Khatri. But since then Puni Thakuri has died and Kamala has left the country in search of a job. Ms Sen - despite her age - still ekes out a living as a stone-crusher. But outside of the workplace she finds that she is increasingly in demand from linguistics students wanting to learn the Kusunda language with her help. They are documenting it in a bid to keep this rare language alive. Researchers have so far identified three vowels and 15 consonants in the Kusunda language. Threat to tribe The Kusunda tribe to which Ms Sen belongs is nomadic. As hunters and gatherers, they live in huts in the jungle and carry bows and arrows to hunt wild animals. While the males of the tribe hunt, women and children stay at home and search for wild fruits. The Kusunda - a short and sturdy people - refer to themselves by the word "myak" in their language. They kill monitor lizards ("pui") and wild fowls ("tap"). Linguists and tribal campaigners are now demanding that the government introduce specific programmes to uplift the Kusunda tribe and protect their language. But no such policy is on the cards, at least in immediate future. "We do not have any specific programme to preserve this language," admitted Narayan Regmi, spokesperson of the Ministry of Culture. The National Ethnographic Museum had meanwhile conducted a study on 10 different Nepalese ethnic groups including the Kusunda. Its research has reached a grim conclusion. The entire Kusunda tribe is on the verge of disappearing along with its last fluent speaker in Nepal.

another thing... to start off with we can have local reading group get togethers where we recite panjabi poetry, stories even plays. Eventually , individuals can write and perform their own works. Have fortnightly/monthly meet ups to perform; meet and greet new people - maybe find a wife (note to self)- , get the sikh channels to broadcast some of these programmes as opposed to the current obbsession with vasakhi nagar kirtans from around the world. Once every year we can have a inter/national meet up........ Just think guys.....what could we achieve.......................

If panjabi is becoming sanskritised, then isn't it just going back to its original form; its own mother-tongue? That can only be a good thing IMO.

One way we may be able to get wider audience for Panjabi is to publish high quality themed books on Panjabi poetry. I'm thinking along the lines of original love/philosophical poems in Panjabi translated into English. Think of the works of Rumi, Khalil Gibran, Tagore etc etc. There must be an audience for this type of literature , whether Punjabis or non Indians. Once they fall in love with the translated works maybe they will want to study the original texts in its native language. #Just look at the amount of love stories we have : Heer ranjah, Sassi Punno , the list goes on . Then there is the works of Gurbani which is about the ultimate expression of love and passion. What a way to increase awareness and knowledge of Panjabi AND spread the spiritual message of Guru Nanak!

well you've coined the phrase now. So what are the ideals of a PANJABI LINGUAL ACTIVIST? What is the ultimate goal of the PLA? (sounds like some terror organisation) By what methods does a PLA achieve their goals? How do we go about creating awareness and then greater activism? If you are the boss of the PLA how do I nominate myself for meeth-pardhan?

true said.

yep. Neither do I see any martial prowess. its the simply stuff you see at the visiting circus freak show. But having said that....everyone is entitled to their 15mins of fame and money, however they achieve that. So fair play to them.

I agree with you there. I'm questioning the way the GOI or Indan prison system seems to be working regarding rajoana. You say it would be starnge if they stopped all his communications now to the outside world, I would say that is normal for a regime holding a political prisoner. As soon as they find that they cant control the flow of information or popularity dont you think they would try to silence him by transferring him from gaol to gaol (like they did with many men in Pb) or placing him incommunicado? To me the actions of the govt just seem too liberal or PC. Even too observant of his Human Rights!

One thing that is confusing me are these letters that are periodically being sent out by Rajoana. Knowing that his case is politically volatile and has agitated the people in Pb and knowing what 'power/influence' he wields. Why is the govt allowing him to write letters to the outside world? Normally anyone on death row is kept virtually in isolation, yet he is apparently mixing in with other convicts, sending messages outside and even able to make media interviews (unless those are old clips being shown). Also physically he has put on a lot of weight whilst inside and looks very healthy. Somehow these are not things I expect from the Indian judicial/prison system. Maybe I've just got it all wrong and they do look after their prisoners?! Some would say that they can smell a macchi.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2140759/Days-Raj-Huge-collection-photographs-showing-life-India-century-ago-shoebox.html Also a pic of some Bengali hindus playing gatka.

When do these things change from being 'cool' to being 'silly' to being simply 'child abuse'? Not able to post the article, so heres the link: http://www.dailymail...t-year-old.html

Thats what i was thinking. I'd say the modern analogy would be the 'Law of Attraction'. ie Having the belief and expectation of certain things happening. I would say thats the whole purpose of the mindset of Chardi Kala too.

I recall someone posting those but the lingo seemed very modern Panjabi. DOnt know whether it was supposed to be the original words or just modern translation.

Yep my mind is that open you can see my brain.

Oh Twadi..... better go to pesh then before they make me a tankhaya..... Now where did I leave my Kakar??

Not early been at it since last night!!!! Sort of a 24hr Rhen sabhai thingy.

If all my friends usually go to KFC and I decide one day that I want to eat McD's then can I be blamed having a 'bad impact on community relations'? Maybe Prof Kunjahi should ask his fellow muslims to stop imposing their dietary laws on others.

Out of curiosity. How did Gurdev respond to the Border agents when they presumably patted him down? Did he simply flash his sharpened teeth at them? And how did he manage to take all the shastar through customs?

Jai Jai Mahakal! Jai Jai Mahakal ki Vidiya! Jai Jai Mahakal ke Shagird!

Of course there is only one type of Sikh. That is the Amritshak, 5 k wearing type. open beard (male and female)only. Wears 'gurmukhi dastar'. He follows the the SGPC rehet fully. But the others can be considered sikhs too............only when they want to pay big money for Akhand Paths or Langar, give daswand to gurdwaras, or donate supplies for the building works or join in pro-sikh marches or guard gurdwaras during riots. Until then they are not sikhs. Interesting question about Bhai Nand Lal. Perhaps if you are on Facebook you can ask the gruop that gives daily quotes from his bani. https://www.facebook.com/Bhainandlal

Whats the source of the quote?

I dont know about the others, but Harjinder Lallie also teaches or did teach western stringed instruments. I found him very forward thinking when I used to learn from him ie if he picked up a new teaching or performing methodology he would pass it on. (But that was in the early 1990's when I used to go to his house to learn)

Oh and Chatanga: 'Ji' keh'na ni sikhia after 'Sudocream Sahib'??