Date:07/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/07/stories/2007060711200500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Urdu represents India's composite culture: experts

Special Correspondent

Need to remove misconception about Urdu being a foreign language stressed

FOR A PEOPLE'S LANGUAGE: Shamsur Rahman Faruqi (left), chairman, National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language; Ali Javed, director of the council; Governor T.N. Chaturvedi; and Labour Minister Iqbal Ansari at a conference in Bangalore on Wednesday . — Photo: K. Gopinathan

Bangalore: To call Urdu the language of the Muslims is to deny its roots in the composite culture of India, said participants at the all-India conference of State Urdu academies, organised by the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language. At the inauguration of the conference here on Wednesday, Ali Javed, president of the council, said that fitting Urdu into the straightjacket of one religion was a conspiracy of the British and the legacy had continued in favour of vote bank politics.

Key role

He recalled the role of Urdu through the years of struggle for Independence as a language used by all, cutting across religious and caste barriers. In his keynote address, vice-chairman of the council Alijanab Shamsur Rahman Faruqi emphasised the need to wipe out the misconception about Urdu being a "foreign language" brought to India by the invading armies. He also underlined the need to strengthen the system of Urdu learning in schools by teaching it along with other subjects.

Governor T.N. Chaturvedi, who inaugurated the conference, recalled his childhood when his father and uncle fluently spoke Urdu and Parsi. Serious effort should be made to keep alive Urdu, a language that can carry both a fiery political speech and a tender confession of love well, he said. He suggested better coordination among Urdu academies across States.

Another issue discussed was funding given to Urdu academies. Mr. Javed pointed out that while the Karnataka Government's allocation is less than Rs. 20 lakh a year, the Delhi Government's allocation is Rs. 3 crore.

The Governor also promised to speak to the Finance Minister on increasing allocation.

Labour and Minority Welfare Minister Iqbal Insari, who was the chief guest, suggested that the academy, now under the Department of Kannada and Culture, could be brought under the Minority Welfare Department to ensure better financial help.

Some members in the audience, however, expressed reservations about the proposal on the ground that this might further strengthen the tag attached to Urdu as a language of one community.