Ludhiana, October 27, 2025 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has not only been a frontrunner in agricultural research and innovation but also a steadfast promoter of Punjabi language, literature, and culture since its inception.
This was stated by Dr Tejinder Singh Riar, Additional Director of Communication at PAU, while outlining the university’s contributions and plans to strengthen the Punjabi language.
Dr Riar emphasised that PAU has always believed in nurturing both scientific and cultural roots. “While the university functions as an internationally recognised institution of agricultural sciences, it remains deeply committed to the use and promotion of Punjabi at the functional level,” he said.
He elaborated that, as PAU attracts students from across India and abroad and serves as a hub for global agricultural information exchange, English remains necessary for academic and international communication; the latter being facilitated mainly through the PAU website. However, within the university and in all public interactions, Punjabi remains the preferred medium. “All signages within and outside the campus are displayed in Punjabi to ensure the mother tongue’s visibility and pride,” he added.
Highlighting PAU’s outreach work, Dr Riar said that every year lakhs of farmers attend the university’s Kisan Melas, training, and extension events where all literature is disseminated in Punjabi. “Our monthly magazine Changi Kheti remains the longest-running and most widely circulated Punjabi publication in the field of agriculture, without missing a single issue since its inception,” he shared proudly.
Dr Riar further mentioned that PAU Live, the university’s social media broadcast, is telecast entirely in Punjabi to reach rural audiences effectively. Similarly, PAU’s digital weekly newspaper, Kheti Sandesh, reaches more than 11 lakh readers in Punjabi every week. He also noted that all training programmes and extension activities across the state are conducted in Punjabi to maintain accessibility and inclusivity.
The Communication Centre of PAU has so far published over 350 books in Punjabi, covering diverse subjects, including proverbs, idioms, and technical terminology used in agricultural sciences. “Even in the digital era, PAU continues to preserve linguistic heritage while empowering farmers with practical knowledge in their mother tongue,” Dr Riar observed.
Making special mention of PAU’s Museum of Rural Life of Punjab, he stated that it has received international recognition for preserving centuries of Punjab’s agricultural and rural development heritage. Over the past few years, lakhs of students from thousands of schools have visited the museum to learn about the vanishing aspects of traditional village life.
Dr Riar proudly noted that PAU also has a rich literary tradition, as several eminent Punjabi writers and Sahitya Academy Award winners, including Kulwant Singh Virk, Gulzar Singh Sandhu, and Dr Surjit Patar, served the university during their illustrious careers. Many others associated with PAU have contributed significantly to Punjabi literature, culture, and education.
He further shared that Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, has been a consistent advocate of promoting Punjabi language and culture within the university. “Dr Gosal has personally motivated the faculty, staff, and students to keep Punjabi alive as a language of pride and connection,” said Dr Riar.
Concluding, he remarked, “Promoting our mother tongue is not just a formality — it is our collective responsibility. PAU will continue to lead by example in taking Punjabi forward, alongside the growth of science and technology.”
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