The Fight to Keep Punjabi & Fiji Hindi Spoken

It’s International Mother Language Day on Feb 21, and Suhayla Sharif and Jasmeet Kaur must explore what their mother tongues—Fiji Hindi and Punjabi—mean to them as second-generation Australians. Jasmeet is fluent in Punjabi, while Suhayla is looking to reconnect with Fiji Hindi. They reflect on the challenges and joys of staying connected to their languages and also dive into teaching each other some Desi slang. The question is: With English often seen as the dominant language in the West, how do we keep our mother tongues alive? Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

SBS Spice hosts Jasmeet Kaur (L) and Suhayla Sharif (R) share their relationship with their mother tongues of Fiji Hindi and Punjabi. Images: Supplied.

SBS Spice is your go-to for South Asian Australian culture, exploring what makes us tick—or ick. Catch us on your favourite podcast platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and the SBS Audio app.

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