Ans: Punjabi language:
. Punjabi is an old language spoken mostly in the province of Punjab. A group
of experts establishes its origin to the ancient Harappa civilization, (between
1000 to 2500 BC). They believe that the language, the Dravidians (the
indigenous South Asian people) spoke was the mother of Punjabi language
Generally, Baba Fareed ud Deen Ganj-e-Shakr (1174-1265) is considered to
be the first Punjabi poet.
. Boli, lappa, war kaft dhola, mahiya, doha, satthni and ghori are the most
well-known genres of classical Punjabi poetry. These are the exceptionally
superb pieces of poetry which have passed down from one generation to
another through word of mouth, and have been preserved in written form
only in the recent past.
. All Punjabi dastaans (ornates from oral history) have been written in poetry,
most well-known among these are Heer Ranjha (Waris Shah) Sassi Punnu
(Hashim Shah) Sohni Mahinwaal, (Fazal Shah), Mirza Şahihan, (Hafiz
Barkhurdar), Saif ul Malook (Mian Muhammad Bukhsh). Most well-known
among the sufi poets are Madhu Laal Hussain, SuJtan Bahoo, Bulleh Shah,
Khawaja Fareed and Mian Muhammad Bakhsh.
. Little Punjabi prose was written before the creation of Pakistan, radio and
television played vital role in the development of Punjabi drama and film
script writing. Publication of Punjabi journals also began after independence.
Siraiki, Pothohari, Jatki and Hindku are different variants of Punjabi
language, sometimes claimed to be independent languages.