New Delhi, March 30: The Urdu language is representative of the enormous cultural complexity of India, Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said at the Delhi University Urdu Department’s Golden Jubilee valedictory session here on Tuesday.
Maintaining that Urdu is a language which belongs to India as a whole and is not confined to any faith or region, Mr. Sibal added there are plans to start “a scheme according to which all schools should offer Urdu language as a subject of study”.
Mr. Sibal also stressed the need for research in Urdu. “Not much research has been done on Urdu and there is a need for this,” he said.
“Fascist forces can be combated by the Urdu language on account of what it stands for. Urdu will never go out of fashion and is a cementing force. Language is not just a means of communication rather the evolution of civilisations is reflected in language,” he added.
Recalling the era when sources of entertainment were few, Mr. Sibal highlighted the role of Urdu poetry and poets in providing wholesome entertainment. He also outlined the historical link between the Capital city and the Urdu language.
Union Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Sachin Pilot noted that Urdu transcends not only faith but also territory. Retired teachers of the Department were awarded mementoes.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dinesh Singh and Department Head Prof. Irteza Karim were also present.
The Urdu Department which was established in 1959 has held a number of events to mark its Golden Jubilee. An alumni association has been established and several literary events, programmes and gatherings have been organised. Moreover, the Department has the “distinction of being the first Department of Urdu research and studies in the subcontinent”.
–Agencies