CHANDIGARH, Punjab—Professor Pandit Rao Dharennavar who is a native of Karnataka is on a mission to spread Punjabi, even though his native tongue is Kannada. He requests bus drivers not to play dirty songs, especially when passengers are on board. He goes into marriage places and requests the bride and groom not to allow the playing of vulgar music at the wedding.
Pandit Rao Dharennavar was recently in the news when he removed English sign boards in Chandigarh to protest against the lack of Punjabi signs. He questioned that there is not a single Punjab Medium School in Chandigarh, and even in schools where Punjabi is taught, it is only done so after later grades, and not in kindergarten.
In an email correspondence with Sikh24, Pandit Rao Dharennavar told us –
I am blessed to carry on the message of Baba Deep Singh ji who scarified his life for saving a holy place, Sri Harmandir Sahib. I am blessed to spread Baba Deep Singh’s message everywhere. My pen and cycle will not stop till people realize the sacrifice made by Baba Deep Singh ji for humanity. Today I carried out a cycle yatra in Ajitgarh and Chandigarh and one day I will carry on this work to south India also.
Pandit Rao Dharennavar, Assistant Professor, PG GOvt College, Sector-46 Chandigarh- 9988351695
Pandit Rao Dharennavar has written eight books in Punjabi and translated Japji Sahib and Sukhmani Sahib into Kannada. He has also translated the Zafarnama (the letter by the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1705).
An older video of Pandit Rao Dharennavar speaking against Gurdas Mann’s song “Ghar Di Sharab” –
