Punjabi is the first language for more than 100 million people in the Punjab region spanning east Pakistan and northwestern India, and a second language to millions more in South Asia and throughout the world wherever Punjabi speakers have migrated. Beyond the Punjab region, Punjabi is also used extensively in the states and territories of Himachal, Jammu, Haryana and even Delhi.
Punjabi possesses rich literary and folk traditions, with notable contributors from the Sikh, Muslim, and Hindu religious traditions. Within India and the Sikh diaspora, Punjabi fulfills the role as the common language of the global Sikh community, as well as the language of many of the sacred texts used in Sikhism.
The study of Punjabi will hold practical value for students who study religion, history, economics, government, anthropology, linguistics, music and ethnomusicology, and comparative literature, as well as in other fields related to the study of South Asia. Instruction is conducted in Gurmukhi script. No prior knowledge is required.
Subject to FAS language tutorial guidelines; enrollment is by petition and statements of academic need are due by June 1, 2023. Please fill out the online petition form here.
Punjabi will not be offered 2025-2026.