He was speaking at the valedictory function of the national conference on the theme of ‘Challenges to Punjabi language, literature and culture in the 21st century’ held by the Punjabi department of the local Government College.

Dr Sandhu said there are 14.5 crore Punjabi speaking people in the world and half of them are settled in foreign countries.

He averred that the irony of the situation is that people living abroad speak Punjabi in their day-to-day-life, whereas in India, parents force their children to speak in English.

Sandhu added that one can hardly find any Punjabi magazine on book stalls and even if one is found, there is no cultural content in it.

While delivering the valedictory lecture, editor of the Punjabi Tribune Varinder Walia expressed his happiness over a large number of Punjabi scholars from Haryana participating in the seminar.

He said under such circumstances, there is no challenge to Punjabi language, literature and culture.

Scholar Dr Rattan Singh Dhillon presented before the delegates a brief report of proceedings of the two-day conference.

College principal Dr S S Phulia and the director of the seminar Dr Gurdev Singh earlier welcomed Dr Sandhu and Varinder Walia.