Re: Pakistan Punjab vs Indian Punjab
Ofcourse. Although there really isnt that much homogeneity in Pakistans Punjab either. Southern portions of Pakistan Punjab for example speak Seraiki, which as far as I know is similar but not the same as Punjabi. Also, as in India, the Punjabi language isnt confined to Punjab as many Kashmiris speak a Punjabi dialect, Hindko is also not considered Punjabi but is very similar to the dialect spoken in Northern Punjab.
But still even if the actual defintion of Punjabi is debated, there is still a very real sense of being “Punjabi” among a large segment of India. That segment which views their mother language as being Punjabi as distinct from Hindi. My point was that among that segment, Sikhs perhaps more then anyone else, have seen their Punjabi-ness as something that must be preserved because to them its something very real. That sense of BEING Punjabi, whatever that means, I think is instilled in them by the realization that there is a much bigger community of non Punjabi speakers. And the fact that there are so many people living outside of Punjab who claim to be from there but dont speak Punjabi as a mother tongue or view it as central to their identity, only deepens this insecurity over losing that cultural heritage regardless of whether the “Punjabi” identity was ever real of mythologized.
And yes many Indian Hindus who were from Pakistan Punjab did not settle in Indian Punjab. The “Dutts” for example, such a Sanjay Dutt etc are of the Mohiya tribe which hails from the Chakwal region of Pakistan Punjab. (Interesting fact about the Mohiyyas is that they are known as “Hussaini” Brahmin, as one of their ancestors fought at Karbala and lost his sons in the battle. So during Muharram they also take part in Shia traditions such self flagellation etc. The place where their ancestor lived in Baghdad is still know as “Al Hindia.”). I dont think the Chakwali dialect is still spoken anywhere in India, although my father did once meet an old Sikh man who was from a town called “Neela Dulha” who was so excited to hear someone speaking in his Chakwali dialect after so many years.