CHANDIGARH: There are an estimated 2,80,867
Punjabi speakers in the USA, according to the data released by US Census Bureau's 2012-2016 American Community Survey. California state alone accounts for half of these Punjabi-speaking people and the language is at 34th position in the country.
Releasing the data, the US Census Bureau has highlighted that "of the 2,80,867 people aged 5 and older who spoke Punjabi at home, 48% lived in California". The Bureau claims that there is only a 3% margin of error in the estimate.
The figure is believed to be much less than actual number of Punjabis settled in US, especially given the presence of a large number of people of West
Punjab (Pakistan) origin in the country.
"The total number of Punjabi origin people is certainly more than the number in the data and this should set alarm bells ringing in the community. It clearly means that a significant part of young generation is moving away from the Punjabi language - either they can't speak at all in Punjabi or they can't speak properly," said North American Punjabi Association executive director Sanam Singh
Chahal.
"I know several families in which children are discouraged from conversing in Punjabi. I have observed in the last several years that those above 40 or those who have emigrated recently usually converse in Punjabi among themselves. The younger ones prefer to converse in English even among themselves," Chahal pointed out.
Dr Rajwant Singh, chairman of
Sikh Council on Religion and Education, said there are around 5 lakh Punjabis in the US by their reckoning. "The data requires further study and analysis and also deeper reflection. There can be number of factors and many second generation members are probably identifying themselves as less Punjabispeaking households," he said. Singh is also the co-founder of National Sikh Campaign, which has run an ad blitzkrieg in the US media to raise level of awareness about Sikh identity in US.
"Community and gurdwaras across the country are trying to keep the next generation more connected with the language and the cultural heritage. The task of being represented fully and properly ought to be top on the community's agenda. There are over 400 gurdwaras across America and each one of is thriving and supported by first generation and second generation (Punjabis), yet the community's civic involvement is where more work is needed," he added.
Another significant feature among Punjabi speakers is that 1,66,415 have been bracketed in the category who can speak English "very well" while 1,14,452 speak English less than "very well". "It is clear from the data that around one-third of the Punjabi speakers can't speak English very well. This reflects the condition of English teaching in Punjab," said Chahal.
The survey features more than 40 social, economic, housing and demographic topics, including homeowner rates and costs, health insurance and educational attainment.
