Why Assault on Urdu?
Apne Bhi Khafa Muj Se Baiganay Bhi Nakhush
Sahil Ahmad Lone
The decision of union government to replace Urdu with 5 regional languages as official languages of JK has given rise to many questions. Has the decision been taken to blot out Urdu, often labeled as “The language Of Muslims”? If so, what would be its outcome? And what would be the strategy of the Urdu class to dwindle its ramifications?
Not long ago, a leader from ruling party tweeted a picture showing the name “Dehradun” written in Sanskrit along with Hindi and English, and replacing Urdu on a railway station signboard in Dehradun city.
When this news was circulated on social media platforms, I was astonished to see that many people were labeling Urdu as a Pakistani language. Some went a step ahead and called Urdu speakers “terrorists”. One fails to understand that how can a language, famous for its exquisite nature and famously called as “The language of Love” be a language of terrorism.
Yes, if the definition of terrorism has changed and speaking up against the tyranny and oppression has become a sin and an act of terrorism, then it surely is the language of terrorism and terrorists. It has always been the language of oppressed. History is witness to the fact that whenever the creation of God was subjected to brutality and tyranny, whenever there was lawlessness and misuse of power, it was Urdu that shook the power corridors by its revolutionary tone:
Main Bhi Khaayif Nahi Takhtaye Daar se
Mai Bhi Mansoor hu kehdo Agyaar se
Zulm Ki Baat Ko Jahl ki Baat ko
Mai Nahi Manta, Mai Nahi manta (Habib Jhalib)
Urdu has enjoyed a special status in J&K for decades. Dogra ruler Pratap Singh adopted it as the official language of J&K in 1889. Although it wasn’t given the due status both by the earlier governments and the Urdu speaking class of J&K. But still it held a special position here as the official records of revenue department, police and lower judiciary were written in Urdu.
It is still medium of instruction in many schools of J&K, especially Kashmir valley. No doubt the language is diminishing day by day here, but there are still thousands who nurture it. Dozens of Urdu newspapers and magazines are published in J&K and have a huge readership. It is still seen with reverence as most of the religious (Islamic) texts are written in Urdu.
Alienating Urdu has always been an agenda of the ruling party. It is seen as the language of Muslims. It is their belief that Hindi must be imposed on the whole country as it depicts the “Indianness” and “patriotism”. The irony is that the mindset of people has been tarnished to such a level that speaking or writing Urdu nowadays has become a crime.
One fails to understand that how can a language be attributed to a particular religion. No doubt Urdu is seen with reverence by Muslims and they speak it the most but how can that make it ‘Muslim’? Urdu has produced many great non-Muslim poets and authors like Premchand, Krishen Chander, Firaq Gorakhpuri Chakbast, Daya Shankar Koul etc. What makes it Muslim then?
It is our collective duty to preserve the glorious Urdu language. It is not only a language, but a culture. By losing it, we will directly lose our culture and identity. The tragedy is that we have attributed it to backwardness. If you speak Urdu instead of English, You are seen as a backward. If any student wants to opt Urdu after metric, he is ridiculed by his parents by saying, “What is the fun of opting for Urdu as it is taken by failures? Pursue your carrier in medical science instead.”
This mindset needs an overhaul. Also, we must inculcate the habit of reading Urdu books, newspapers and Journals in ourselves. It will be the best way to confer the Urdu its lost glory.
(The author is a student with a keen interest in writing for newspapers and journals. He is currently pursuing BA (Hons.) in English and can be reached at [email protected])
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