6 October 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Members of the Sikh community held a peaceful protest rally in Jammu on October 5, demanding the restoration and promotion of Punjabi in the education system of Jammu and Kashmir. The demonstration was organised under the banner of the Jammu Punjabi Morcha, with protesters urging the Lieutenant Governor’s administration and the government to introduce Punjabi into the school curriculum and recognise its importance as a community language.
The protesters called for concrete steps to ensure that children in the Union Territory have opportunities to learn Punjabi in schools. They also demanded that the language receive greater recognition in the region, where it holds cultural and historical significance for the Sikh community and Punjabi-speaking residents.
Surjan Singh, general secretary of the District Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, said the rally was organised to highlight the community’s long-pending demand for the restoration of Punjabi in schools. He emphasised that Punjabi is the mother tongue of the community and should be protected through education and official recognition.
According to Surjan Singh, Punjabi was taught in schools before 1947 but was subsequently removed from the curriculum outside Punjab. He said the community had repeatedly approached the Lieutenant Governor’s administration to seek action on the issue, but its demand had yet to be addressed.
The protest reflects continuing concerns among Sikh organisations over the status of Punjabi in Jammu and Kashmir. Community representatives have argued that introducing Punjabi in schools would help younger generations maintain a connection with their mother tongue, cultural traditions and literary heritage.
Demand for Punjabi in the school curriculum
The protesters urged the administration to take steps to include Punjabi in the school curriculum so that students can study the language as part of their formal education. They said access to language education is important for preserving linguistic identity and ensuring that younger generations can read, write and communicate in Punjabi.
For many families, the issue extends beyond the classroom. Punjabi is closely connected with religious, cultural and social life within the Sikh community. Supporters of the demand believe that teaching the language in schools would help children develop stronger literacy skills while maintaining links with their heritage.
The Jammu Punjabi Morcha has called for the government to address the issue through a formal policy response. Protesters want the administration to move beyond assurances and take practical steps towards introducing Punjabi in educational institutions.
Call for official language recognition
Alongside the demand for its inclusion in schools, the Sikh community has sought the promotion and restoration of Punjabi as an official language in Jammu and Kashmir. The protesters urged the authorities to recognise the language’s place in the region and take measures to support its use.
The demand for official recognition has been raised by Sikh organisations and community representatives over several years. In September 2020, Jammu and Kashmir adopted legislation recognising five official languages: Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Hindi and English. Punjabi was not included in that list, a point that has remained central to the community’s campaign.
Community representatives have maintained that Punjabi deserves consideration because of its historical presence and continued use among residents. They have also called for Punjabi classes and appropriate educational support so that children can learn the language in a structured environment.
Warning of further protests
Surjan Singh said the community had been seeking action from the Lieutenant Governor’s administration for a long time. He also stated that the Lieutenant Governor had previously acknowledged concerns raised by young people over the issue.
The protesters warned that they would continue their campaign if their demands were not addressed. Surjan Singh said the community would pursue further demonstrations and sit-ins if an amicable resolution could not be reached.
The warning indicates that the issue could remain a point of public mobilisation in Jammu. Sikh organisations have continued to use peaceful and democratic means to press for Punjabi language rights, seeking support from community institutions and other stakeholders.
Language and cultural identity
The demand for Punjabi in education is part of a wider discussion about the preservation of regional languages and the role of schools in protecting linguistic diversity. Supporters argue that mother-tongue education can help children develop reading and writing skills in their own language while strengthening their understanding of cultural traditions.
For the Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjabi is closely linked to religious literature, community history and everyday communication. Advocates say that providing opportunities to study Punjabi would help ensure that the language remains accessible to younger generations.
The latest protest has once again drawn attention to the community’s expectations from the administration. Protesters are seeking a clear response on the inclusion of Punjabi in the school curriculum, its promotion as a community language and its recognition in Jammu and Kashmir.
The next steps will depend on how the administration responds to these demands. For now, the Sikh community has reiterated that it intends to continue pressing for the restoration of Punjabi in education and greater recognition of the language, while pursuing its demands through peaceful demonstrations and dialogue.