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Summary of Question:	What Language Should I- Use Hindi Or Punjabi?
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Wednesday, 2/11/2004 1:32 PM MST

Sat Sri Aakal

I am 16 year delhihite and i am right now in US as an exchange student and i am a sikh.Being in delhi everybody use to speak hindi that does mean i dont know punjabi i can do path in punjabi but recently i went to Los Angeles to see my uncle .LA was my first exprience with a big indian community in US .my uncles friend and his wife asked me question in punjabi i felt a little shy to speak punjabi because in Delhi i used hindi as mode of conversation between friends .i know punjabi but its just that i feel little shy speaking it.I am doing something wrong in sikh religion if i dont use punjabi .Please advise

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REPLY
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Sat Siri Akaal. There is benefit to being able to speak both hindi and punjabi. Use the time with family in LA to cultivate your punjabi skills. That said, there are Sikhs all over the world who are not punjabi and not indian, so it is no offense against Sikhi to not speak punjabi. But you are blessed to be able to speak both, so don't lose that skill!
Gurmukhi, the language of Gurbani, is not strictly punjabi-based. The Gurbani in SGGS has language elements in it from old punjabi, old hindi, sanskrit, persian, and arabic. I am glad you can do your paath in Gurmukhi.
Guru ang sang,
-DKK