Unicode:

This blog uses Unicode system to display Punjabi in Gurmukhi. These days most computers come equipped with Unicode fonts. However, if you do not see the Punjabi script, you may need to install Unicode fonts manually on your computer. Do you see the following line in Gurmukhi?

ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਲਿਖਣ ਲਈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਉੱਤਮ ਵਰਣਮਾਲ਼ਾ ਹੈ।

If yes, unless you plan to write in Gurmukhi, you need to do nothing else. If no, then please continue reading. In the absence of a Unicode font, you will see blocks or questions marks where the text is supposed to be. In that case, please download the Anmol Unicode Fonts from the link below:

Download Anmol Unicode Fonts.

If you intend to write the Punjabi script, we recommend that you install the Punjabi Keyboard as well. This will make the writing process natural and much easier. Please download the following two files:

1. Download Anmol Unicode Keyboard Layouts: This keyboard layout is designed and supported by Dr. Kulbir Singh Thind.

2. Download Installation Instructions.

If you use a Mac and are unable to see Punjabi script, please try using Safari (a web browser that comes installed on all Macs). A few other web browsers (such as Camino) on Mac are not fully Unicode compatible. If you do not see Punjabi even in Safari, please install the optional “Asian Language Support Package” from the supplied OS disc. This will install the “Gurmukhi MT” font and the Gurmukhi keyboard.

For more information about Gurmukhi Unicode please click here.

To read the installation instructions online please click here.

Both of the above links  link to the original pages written by Dr. Kulbir Singh Thind.

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Gurmukhi vs. Shahmukhi vs Roman:

I write Punjabi in Gurmukhi, however, I am aware that a vast number of Punjabis read and write Punjabi in Haroof-e-Tahajji, the Urdu (Persian) alphabet, also known in Punjabi as Shahmukhi script. And, the Punjabi children born in the western countries read Punjabi in the Roman Script. The latter is not children’s fault, it is due to their parents’ indifference towards Punjabi. Every sound of Punjabi cannot be written in Shahmukhi or Roman. At least I am not aware of any letters that can represent the ਣ Sound, or the ਲ਼ sound. A few people have devised letters or complete systems to transliterate Gurmukhi into Shamukhi and Roman.

In the beginning, for those who cannot read Gurmukhi, I posted both Roman and Shamukhi versions of my posts. Eventually I just settled for the Roman transliteration only. To read the roman Punjabi on this blog, please use the key below:

ੳ ਅ ੲ (english vowls as needed)
ਸ ਹ – s h
ਕ ਖ ਗ ਘ ਙ – k kh g gh ṅ
ਚ ਛ ਜ ਝ ਞ – ch chha j jh ñ
ਟ ਠ ਡ ਢ ਣ – ṭ ṭha ḍ ḍha ṇ
ਤ ਥ ਦ ਧ ਨ – t tha d dha n
ਪ ਫ ਬ ਭ ਮ – p ph b bh m
ਯ ਰ ਲ ਵ ੜ – y r l v ṛ

ਮੁਕਤਾ : ਡਰ – ḍar, ਕੰਨਾ : ਡਾਰ – ḍār
ਸਿਹਾਰੀ: ਸਿਰ – sir, ਬਿਹਾਰੀ: ਖੀਰ – khīr
ਔਂਕੜ: ਖੁਰ – khur, ਦੋ-ਲੈਂਕੜ: ਸੈਰ – sair
ਟਿੱਪੀ: ਖੰਡ – khaṇḍ, ਅੱਦਕ: ਖੱਡ – khaḍḍ

Some converted letters in the above table seem a little unnatural, but this table has been prepared by the University of Punjabi Patiala. So adopting it would mean that we can eventually create a universal system. If you would like to download the converter yourself, please download and install it from the link below:

University of Punjabi GTrans Converter.

If you need any further information regarding the subjects above, please contact us here or e-mail Dr. Thind.

ਪੰਜਾਬ ਤੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀਅਤ ਨੂੰ ਪਿਆਰ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਸ਼ੁਕਰੀਆ।

paṃjāb tē pañjābīat nūṃ piār karan laī shukarīā.

پنجاب تے پنجابِیات نُون پیار کرن لئی شُکرِیا۔