Only by changing the mindset, the development and preservation of civilization of Urdu is possible. Govt. is prepared to take steps for the development of Urdu. By developing Urdu and Telugu, Govt. will ensure the progress of Urdu.
Chief Minister of A.P., Mr. N.Kiran Kumar Reddy expressed these thoughts while addressing the conference on “Changing Scenario and Urdu” held at Jubilee Hall yesterday.
He told that after the successful conduct of the world Telugu Conference held in December last year, he is seriously thinking of organizing a World Urdu Conference. The C.M. told that if the Urdu speakers come forward, the Govt. is ready to extend its fullest cooperation.
Mr. Justice Markandey Katju presided over the conference organized by “Urdu Heritage Caravan”. Mr. Zahid Ali Khan, Editor of Siasat, Urdu Daily, Mr. Mahmoodur Rahman, IAS (Rtd) former Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Mr. Anees Ansari, Vice Chancellor of Khaja Moinuddin Chisthi Urdu, Arabic and Persian University, Lucknow, Dr. Zaheer Qazi, Chairman of Anjuman-e-Islam, Mumbai, Dr. Khaja Ikramuddin Director, National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language, Prof. Akhtharul Wasey, Vice Chairman of Urdu Academy, New Delhi, Mr. Khurram Raza and Mr. Siraj Naqvi addressed the conference.
Addressing the Conference, Mr. N.Kiran Kumar Reddy, C.M. of A.P. told that Urdu language is such that its sweetness could be felt. Govt. is serious about the development of Urdu. Govt. has allocated Rs.25 crore for this purpose. The C.M. told that holding such closed-door conference can’t develop Urdu language but for this, it is inevitable to hold open-air meeting.
Referring to a report of the UNESCO, he said that in the next 25-30 years more than 60 languages would become extinct which are now on the path of deterioration. Urdu is also included in this list.
It is our responsibility to ensure its preservation. The C.M. also told that his Govt. is serious about the development of Minorities. This year Rs.1027 crore has been allocated for Minorities. Though this amount is not very much but its proper utilization is important.
Referring to the Urdu Medium School in his constituency, he said that they are representing to convert it into an English medium school, but he has refused to do so. He told that the parents of the students themselves are demanding it, which is regrettable. Concentrating his attention of the elderly persons present in the conference; he said that it is necessary to associate the youngsters with such conferences. Since the protection of the language and its future is in the hands of the youths, it is necessary to bring about a change in their mindset.
He also said that so long as we don’t protect our language and civilization, it is difficult to progress. One of the basic reasons of the downfall of the regional languages is that for international communication, English has gained prominence.
Our languages deteriorate because they have gone astray from employment.
Addressing the conference on this occasion, Justice Markandey Katju said that for the preservation of our composite civilization, it is essential to protect Urdu and Sanskrit.
Justice Katju said that Urdu poetry has tremendous power of speech, which no other language has. He told that it is necessary that we should remove the misconception that the Hindus have started thinking that Urdu is the language of the Muslims and the Muslims started saying that Sanskrit is the language of the Hindus.
Urdu has 70% Sanskrit words.
Justice Katju told that as the judge of Allahbad High Court, he had pronounced a judgment that Urdu and Sanskrit should be taught to the students compulsorily from class III to V.
He wished Mr. N.Kiran Kumar Reddy to implement this proposal so that a sophisticated society is constituted.
He said that he conducted Urdu Mushaira twice in Supreme Court when he was a judge there.
Reacting to the proposal of teaching Urdu and Sanskrit from the third standard to the fifth standard, the C.M. said that he would implemented it after consulting the educational experts.
During his address, Mr. Zahid Ali Khan told that the relation between Hyderabad and Urdu is that of a tree and its root. He told that the first poet of Urdu is from Hyderabad and the first woman poet. Maah Laqa Bai Chanda was also from Hyderabad. She belonged to the period of the Nizam II of Hyderabad.
Mr. Zahid Ali Khan told that Hyderabad is the first place where Urdu was made an official language in 1886. Hyderabad is also the fist state when the first Urdu medium University, Osmania University was established.
He said that all the courses of this University were available in Urdu.
He pointed out that after the first war of independence in 1857, Hyderabad state was the only safe place for the poets and writers. He told that the child, who thinks in his mother tongue, also comprehends better in that language.
It is, therefore, necessary to link up Urdu with employment.
He said that although Urdu enjoys the status of the second official language in A.P. State, there is a need to take necessary practical steps for its development.
Mr. Zahid Ali Khan congratulated Mr. Zaheeruddin Ali Khan, Managing Editor of Siasat that he is engaged in promoting Urdu thorough Hindi and Telugu languages.
Siasat Urdu Daily is also engaged for the promotion of Urdu language through Abid Ali Khan Educational Trust.
Prof. Akhtharul Wasey, in his keynote address made said that the Urdu speakers are responsible for the deterioration of Urdu. He told that by increasing the number of Urdu speakers, we should compel the Govt. to develop it.
He said that languages have no religion but every religion needs a language. It is, therefore, essential for us to remove this idea from our minds that Urdu is the language of the Muslims. He told that in the present era, Justice Katju has emerged as a ray of hope to attract the attention of the authorities for developing Urdu.
Applauding the efforts of Hyderabad for the preservation of Urdu, he said that after the downfall of Urdu in Delhi and U.P., Urdu is safe in Hyderabad as a cultural heritage.
He pointed out that during the monarchy, Urdu speakers forced the kings to declare as their official language. Now that it is a democratic country, people can compel the Governments to develop Urdu.
Former Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Dr. Mahmoodur Rahman told in his speech that without persuading the Urdu speakers towards Urdu, the progress of Urdu language couldn’t be assured. He also presented the extracts of various committees, which made their recommendations to promote Urdu language.
Dr. Zaheer Qazi President of Anjuman-e-Islam advised the Urdu speakers that they should also work for the development of Urdu besides Government efforts.
He told that Urdu is an Indian language and there is a need for us to communicate this language to all the Indians so that the real service to Urdu could be done.
Mr. Anees Ansari, Vice Chancellor of Khaja Moinuddin Chisthi Arabic, Persian and Urdu University of Lucknow told that with the cooperation of non-Muslim Secular persons, we could promote Urdu. This is the way we can compensate the damage done to Urdu Language in the past.
Dr. Khaja Ikramuddin, Director of National Council for the Promotion of Urdu Language, New Delhi in his speech stressed the need to make Urdu compatible with the modern technology so that it could be popularized worldwide.
Mr. Khurram Raza and Mr. Siraj Naqvi also spoke on this occasion and highlighted the Universality and the strength of Urdu Language.
Mr. Aasif Azami, Secretary of Urdu Heritage Caravan conducted the meeting and thanked the guests and the audience. Prof. S.A. Shukoor, Director, Urdu Academy of A.P. welcomed the guests.
Ms. Rani Kumudini, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Minorities Welfare, Mr. Mohammed Abdul Waheed, Commissioner for Minorities Welfare, Mr. Farooq Hussain and Mr. Mohammed Mahmood Ali (MLC’s), Mr. Abid Rasool Khan, Secretary, APCC, Padmashree Mujtaba Husain, Mr. Rahmimuddin Ansari, Mr. Syed Shah Noiorul Haque Quadri and others attended the conference.
—Siasat News