By Tallat Naveed

"For anyone seeking to understand Punjab’s history, reading just two pages of Sanjogi, the magazine's preface, offers a powerful introduction"

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ککراں وے کنڈیا لیا  
اتوں چڑھیا پوہ  
حق جنھاں دے اپنے
آپ لین گے کھو ہ

Without any doubt, for any country to be formed, societal harmony is far more important than the religious harmony. A nation is recognized with its lands, mother tongue and its certain belongings, rather than the religion of its people. So the land of Punjab is not for any Muslim, Hindu or Sikh for that matter, but it is for people who have been living and prospering there since long - the Punjabis. As it is rightfully said:

"The mother tongue is the true badge of a nation’s identity."

(Mahmoud Darwish)

At the time of partition, Punjabi was the most widely spoken language in the subcontinent. Yet, like many of our other mother tongues, it suffered from neglect and near-forgetting. Though the language was often discussed, the true sentiments of its people were rarely acknowledged. Punjabi is a language deeply rooted in heritage, rich in literature, intellect, and aesthetics. However, both the Punjab government and Punjabis themselves failed to honour and cherish it, excluding it from the national constitution. This deliberate marginalisation was aimed at fostering an indifference among Punjabis, leading newer generations to see it as unimportant or secondary in their lives. Such political disregard is a grave injustice to a language. This negligence stunted Punjabi's literary growth—no extensive research was conducted, influential publications remained absent, and it was left out of the national educational curriculum. Only one magazine Rut Lekhaa, published in the 1970s, championed the cause of Punjabi, with another publication Baran Maah eventually joining to remind Punjabis of their rich, forgotten literary history.

Renowned Punjabi author, poet, and activist Prof Zubair Ahmad from West Punjab, dedicated his life for the empowerment of the Punjabi language for forty years, worked hard throughout his life for the promotion and the image building of his mother tongue . His love and passion is acknowledged all over the world. Before starting on this substantial task, he kept in mind the power print media and social media has on todays generation, he dreamt together with Amarjeet Chandan from East Punjab who is also a poet and a famous columnist about a magazine that will begin a new era for the Punjabi literature. It was joint venture not made possible before. Despite financial hardships, their shared vision and unwavering determination brought this project to life. Overcoming political and regional challenges, the first issue was successfully published in 2019.

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A notable aspect of Baranh Maah is that each annual edition focuses on a specific theme, with its content centered around this concept

Compiling Punjabi literature was no small feat, as it was often dispersed and not readily available, and some writers hesitated to participate due to the lesser recognition of Punjabi compared to other 'imported' languages. Rather than opting for quarterly or biannual issues, they decided on an annual publication that would bring together the voices of both emerging and established writers. This magazine uniquely blends literature from both East and West Punjab, making its contribution to Punjabi literature more profound than it appears at first glance.

The first issue in 2019 was dedicated to the berry leaf from Bhagat Singh’s house yard, marking the powerful start of Punjabi literature’s revival by Kitab Trinjin. This inaugural edition embraced the deeply significant representation of Punjabi culture and identity. Contributions from Ahmad Raza, Iqbal Qaiser, Parveen Malik, and Amir Riaz added profound insights, while nostalgic reflections from Dr Manzoor Ijaz, Mazhar Tirmazi, Sarmad Sehbai, and Fiaz Bakir enriched its pages. The issue featured a collection of short stories, poems, informative essays, and critical analyses of other Punjabi works, highlighted by the memorable letters of Sibt-Ul-Hassan Zaighum and Krishan Chandar.

The second edition, released in 2020, honoured Jehlum's own Satesh Gujral and his artwork capturing the grief and hardships brought about by the partition. This issue demanded even more in-depth research and dedication, as readers and publishers had come to expect a high standard. Centered on 'Punjabiat' and the rights of the Punjabi people, it featured insightful literary essays by Dr Manzoor Ijaz and Fakhar Zaman, both deeply exploring these themes. The edition also included memorable contributions, such as Habib Jalib's recollections and the historical letters from Surjeet Kaur to her husband Manmohan and to Pirthivi Raj, enriching the collection with personal and historical depth.

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The 2021 edition of the magazine focused on the partition of Punjab and the complex issues surrounding it. For anyone seeking to understand Punjab’s history, reading just two pages of "Sanjogi," the magazine's preface, offers a powerful introduction. The hard truths in "Gunahan Da Lekhaa" are impossible to ignore. Contributions from writers like Mehmood Awan, Raja Sadiq Ullah, Irfan Malik, Muno Bhai, Najam Hussain Syed, and Akram Warraich’s Rut Lekha left a lasting impact. This issue’s cover paid homage to the “Havelis of Gujrat.”

The 2022 edition of the magazine was dedicated to the unity and recognition of the Punjabi nation and its mother tongue, advocating for constitutional rights through the power of the written word. Baranh Maah continued to set a remarkable example in this mission. This issue featured an enlightening dialogue between researcher and writer Prof Zubair Ahmad and distinguished journalist Tariq Mehmood. Unforgettable essays by Chandan, Sarmad Sehbai, Sorraj Bair, Mandeep Singh, Gurdaas Dhidwall, Mudassar Bashir, Muneeb Anwar, and Kurmeet Kaur enriched the publication. Thought-provoking short stories by Nain Sukh, Asim Butt, Hameed Raazi, Neelum Ahmad Bashir, Javaid Boota, Samina Asma, and Ali Usman Bajwa, along with beautiful poetry from Aftab Naveed, Ayub Awan, Tallat Naveed, Saima Batool, Chandan, and others, adorned the pages. The edition concluded with "Hirk Sanaha," an obituary honouring the late Qasoor Mubarik Butt and Lakht Pasha, a heartfelt tribute to these departed friends.

In 2023, the magazine was recognized for its emphasis on translation, featuring Punjabi translations of renowned literary works from around the globe. Translations are essential for any language, allowing readers to understand and engage with the ideas of international philosophers and thinkers. Familiarity with this literature is crucial for the growth and promotion of our own language. Unfortunately, the state of translation in West Punjab is quite weak, with only a few novels and about eight to ten stories published. While Najam Hussain Saeed, Mushtaq Soofi, Jameel Ahmad Pal, and Ilyas Ghoomman have contributed some translations of international works, Punjabi literature still lags in this area. However, collaborators Zubair Ahmad and Chandan have made efforts to enhance and promote the Punjabi language through translation.

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Iranian poetess Mimi Khalwati once remarked, “If we don’t engage with the literature of other cultures, we will remain confined to our own.” This notion speaks not only to language but also to the journey between different cultures.