Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ / پنجابی) is one of the most widely spoken languages of the Indo-Aryan family, rooted deeply in the cultural and spiritual heritage of the greater Punjab region. Today, this language straddles political borders—spoken in the Indian state of Punjab (often called East Punjab) and in the Pakistani province of Punjab (West Punjab). Despite being united by a common linguistic heritage, Punjabi has grown into two major written traditions: Gurmukhi, predominantly used in India, and Shahmukhi, a Perso-Arabic script employed in Pakistan. While everyday speech across both regions remains mutually intelligible, this script divide has created a unique challenge for cross-border literary exchange and cultural unity.
Globally, Punjabi stands among the most spoken languages of the world. Current estimates place the total number of speakers between 130 to 160 million. In Pakistan alone, over 88 million people reported Punjabi as their mother tongue in the 2023 census, while in India’s 2011 census, more than 31 million identified Punjabi as their first language. Beyond South Asia, Punjabi has flourished within strong diaspora communities across Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and the Gulf states. These communities not only preserve the language through religious institutions, cultural organizations, and local media, but also contribute significantly to the global visibility of Punjabi.
Historically, Punjabi evolved from earlier Prakrits and Apabhraṃśa forms of northwestern India. It is distinctive among Indo-Aryan languages for incorporating tones, a feature more commonly associated with East and Southeast Asian languages. The development of the Gurmukhi script under Sikh Gurus in the 16th and 17th centuries gave the language a standardized form and made it central to Sikh religious and literary life. The Sikh scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, is preserved in Gurmukhi, anchoring Punjabi firmly in the spiritual and cultural fabric of Punjab. Meanwhile, in western Punjab, the Shahmukhi script developed under Persian and Urdu influence, and remains the main medium of Punjabi publishing in Pakistan.
In East Punjab, Punjabi holds the position of official state language, and schools, universities, and cultural institutions actively promote its use. The government has taken measures to make Punjabi a compulsory subject in schools and to ensure its presence in administrative affairs. Despite this, social pressures linked to globalization, migration, and the prestige of English and Hindi have sometimes reduced Punjabi’s role among urban youth. Still, Punjabi media, literature, and cinema continue to thrive, reflecting a conscious effort to strengthen the language in public and private spheres.
In West Punjab, the situation is more complex. While Punjabi is the everyday spoken language of the vast majority, it has not enjoyed equal status in formal education or administration. Urdu and English dominate schools, offices, and higher education, leaving Punjabi largely confined to homes, villages, and cultural performances. This marginalization has drawn criticism from linguists and cultural advocates, who argue that mother-tongue education in Punjabi would improve literacy and strengthen cultural identity. Some grassroots movements and academic institutions in Pakistan are now pushing for Punjabi language education and the preservation of Punjabi literature in Shahmukhi, though progress remains slow.
The Punjabi diaspora plays a crucial role in keeping the language alive beyond South Asia. In Canada, about 520,000 people reported Punjabi as their primary home language in the 2021 census, making it one of the top four most spoken languages in the country. The growth rate has been remarkable—Punjabi-speaking households increased by nearly 49% between 2016 and 2021, far outpacing overall population growth. British Columbia alone accounts for more than 315,000 Punjabi speakers, around 6.4% of that province’s population, reflecting the strong concentration of Punjabi migrants there. In the United Kingdom, the 2011 census recorded almost 273,000 people identifying Punjabi as their main language, making Punjabi the third most spoken language in the country after English and Welsh. Including second- and third-generation speakers, the Punjabi-origin population in the UK is estimated to exceed 700,000. In the United States and Australia as well, Punjabi has become one of the fastest-growing languages, while Gulf countries host large numbers of Punjabi migrant workers who maintain the language in daily life.
These diaspora figures show that Punjabi is not only surviving but expanding globally. Gurdwaras, cultural associations, radio and television channels, and weekend language schools act as hubs for maintaining linguistic identity. However, as in many immigrant communities, younger generations often shift towards dominant local languages, with English becoming the preferred medium. To counter this, diaspora organizations have been running heritage language programs, publishing bilingual books, and using digital platforms to teach Punjabi, ensuring that cultural roots remain intact for younger Punjabis abroad.
In recent years, both governments and civil society have recognized the need to act more decisively to preserve Punjabi. In India, education boards have emphasized Punjabi-medium instruction and inter-state language exchange programs for schoolchildren. In Pakistan, intellectuals and NGOs are advocating for Punjabi’s inclusion in school curricula and greater visibility in media. Across the world, diaspora groups are investing in community schools, digital tools, and cultural programming to ensure the language remains vibrant among second and third generations. Technology has also opened new doors: script-conversion projects now allow Gurmukhi and Shahmukhi texts to be shared more widely, while apps, online courses, and e-books provide global access to Punjabi learning.
Challenges remain significant. The script divide between Gurmukhi and Shahmukhi continues to hinder a unified literary tradition. Urbanization and migration contribute to language shift, while institutional neglect—particularly in Pakistan—limits Punjabi’s role in formal education and governance. Moreover, digital underrepresentation of Punjabi in both scripts hampers its growth in the online space. To overcome these hurdles, coordinated efforts are needed: mother-tongue instruction in schools, stronger publishing industries, state support for Punjabi media, diaspora investment in heritage education, and technological innovation for digital resources.
Ultimately, Punjabi is more than just a language—it is a vessel of history, culture, and identity for millions. Its survival and flourishing depend on a balance between pride and practicality: pride in its rich literary and cultural heritage, and practical measures to embed it in education, governance, and digital platforms. If governments, institutions, and communities act together, Punjabi can continue to thrive not only as a regional language of Punjab but as a truly global language carried forward by generations around the world.