By Varinder Singh

The Tribune : Sep 14, 2017

Initiates a tirade against vulgarity in Punjabi songs, to file complaints against singers, directors

Prof Pandit Rao Darennavar, who has initiated a movement to promote Punjabi and to put an end to vulgarity in Punjabi songs, in Bathinda on Thursday. Photo: Vijay Kumar

Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, September 14

Born and brought up in remote Salotagi village of Bijapur district of Karnataka, Prof Pandit Rao Darennavar has not only become a self-ordained ambassador of Punjabi but he has also initiated a movement in support of preservation and promotion of the language and against persistent vulgarity in Punjabi pop songs.

Darennavar is so obsessed with the language that he has started a state-wide tour to promote it and has earmarked a monthly amount of Rs 30,000 out of his Rs 70,000 salary for installation of boards and signs in Punjabi in the state as well as in Chandigarh.

This Assistant Professor of sociology at Post-Graduate Government College, Sector 46, Chandigarh, kick-started the first leg of his Punjab tour from Bathinda today.

He took a round of important places such as Central University, bus stand and hotels to encourage people to write and speak Punjabi.

“I feel hurt to see that people of the state take pride in speaking other languages such as English and Hindi and ignore their mother tongue. I am of the firm view that you cannot preserve your rich culture without conserving your native language. I found all the boards written in English at a local hotel. I had to request the owner to re-write them in Punjabi,” said Prof Darennavar while talking in chaste Punjabi and walking on the road carrying a big placard of Punjabi ‘Varanmala’.

Prof Darennavar has translated the Sikh holy hymns such as ‘Japji Sahib, ‘Aasa Dee Vaar’, ‘Sukhmani Sahib’, ‘Zafarnaama’, and several tales of chivalary of Sikh warriors into Kannada.

He said he was of the view that no one should turn his or her back to their native language.

Besides, he took Punjabi classes of South Indian doctors working in Chandigarh. He has also penned a book, “Sat Sri Akal Doctor Sahib’.

“It is sad to note that Chandigarh — the capital of Punjab — has no government institute for teaching Punjabi to children and adults. How can anyone even think of deceiving one’s mother tongue? Globalisation has already posed a serious threat to a couple of native languages, including Punjabi. A few years ago, Hindi was forcibly thrust upon people of Karnataka when all important signs were displayed in Hindi in Bengaluru. In such times, we need to realise the importance of native or regional languages and strive to preserve them,” said Darennavar, adding that he would go to other districts to make people aware of the importance of their mother tongue Punjabi.

Prof Darennavar has virtually waged a war against increasing vulgarity in Punjabi songs.

“I have already filed a PIL against vulgarity in Punjabi. Punjabis should realise that there is no place for vulgarity in their beautiful culture. Ironically, the government has turned a blind eye to this. There is no policy or board to check this cultural malpractice. Even if no one comes forward and dares to speak against it, I will teach a lesson to propagators of vulgarity in songs, which are a blot on the rich heritage. I will get such singers and music directors booked on the basis of my personal complaints to the police. It is my next mission to stop proliferation of vulgarity in Punjabi music,” asserted the scholar.

Asked how he got so passionate about Punjabi, Prof Darennavar said after coming to Chandigarh in 2003 after being appointed as a lecturer in Sector 46 Government College, he realised the beauty of Punjabi.

“I got so enamoured by Punjabi that I used to spend all my spare time in learning Punjabi from neighbourhood kids to whom I would give Rs 35 for each session as a honourarium,” said the Kannada-origin teacher.