[Reader-list] "Resuscitating Urdu" - by Beant Singh Bedi

[Kshmendra Kaul]

Curse me. I hate myself for doing this. But, I cannot help being driven to quote an extract from the article reproduced below.
 
There are many  who are delusional when it comes to recognising the realities of the attitudes in Pakistan towards 'things' Indian. This extract is for them.
 
Extract:
 
""""" On a recent visit to Pakistan, this writer was pleasantly surprised to learn that commentary on Dewan-e-Ghalib authored by Labhu Ram, Josh Malsiani is accepted as a most authentic commentary on this great monument of this immortal Urdu poetry. It is widely published, taught and read in the universities and colleges of Pakistan, albeit the name of author on the cover is printed as Josh Malsaini (omitting ‘Labhu Ram’ for obvious reasons). """""""
 
 
Kshmendra
 
 
 
The Tribune
August 31, 2008
 
"Resuscitating Urdu"
"No need to be too rigid about the script"
 
by Beant Singh Bedi 
 
HOW a secular, beautiful and rich language like Urdu was banished from the land of its birth by linguistic bigots has been effectively brought out by Justice Markandey Katju, the Supreme Court Judge, in his article “Injustice to Urdu in India” (Perspective, August 3). It was unfortunate to identify this dynamic and resonant language with a particular community or to label it as foreign language. 
 
Practically, all noted linguists agree that Urdu is very much an Indian language, which was born, developed and flourished in this country. The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines Urdu as an Indian language closely related to Hindi. The origin of this word is from Persian Zabane Urdu (Language of the Camp) because it developed as a lingua franca after the Muslim invasions between occupying armies and the people of Delhi, Urdu being from Turki Urdu (Horde). 
  
For about two centuries, this language served as a medium of expression of our composite Ganga-Jamni culture. Beautiful translations of our epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata and the sacred texts like Geeta are available in this rich language. Sikh sacred texts like Japuji Sahib and Sukhmani Sahib have also been rendered into beautiful Urdu verse by Khwaja Dil Mohammed. 
  
These literary endeavours (which are indeed labour of love) authentically testify to the secular nature of this language. Contributions of Hindus and Sikhs to Urdu literature has been quite significant. Munshi Prem Chand Rattan Lal Sharsher, Chakbast, Firak, Rajinder Singh Bedi, Kali Das Gupta “Raza” being only a few among many others. 
  
On a recent visit to Pakistan, this writer was pleasantly surprised to learn that commentary on Dewan-e-Ghalib authored by Labhu Ram, Josh Malsiani is accepted as a most authentic commentary on this great monument of this immortal Urdu poetry. It is widely published, taught and read in the universities and colleges of Pakistan, albeit the name of author on the cover is printed as Josh Malsaini (omitting ‘Labhu Ram’ for obvious reasons). 
  
As noted by Justice Katju, Urdu is the heart throb of the people of India which enjoys immense popularity of the Mushairas and Urdu film songs even after 60 years of banishment of this language. Lata Mangeshkar, who has rendered hundreds of Urdu ghazals and geets in her mellifluous and golden voice, has rightly been called the front-rank populariser and propagator of this beautiful language. 
  
The contribution of Urdu press to the freedom struggle has been second to none. Shoulder to shoulder with The Tribune, Urdu dailies like Milap, Partap, Veer Bharat, Tej and Prabhat were in the front rank to give voice and direction to the freedom struggle. In view of such a significant contribution, who can doubt the patriotism and nationalism of this great language? 
  
Rght up to 1947 and even for a few years after that, Urdu was the official and court language in Punjab (present truncated Punjab, Haryana and parts of Himachal Pradesh). Almost the entire pre-partition land revenue record is in this language. This language has left a permanent imprint on the vocabulary being used in the courts and offices in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh even up to this day. Therefore, the importance of this language cannot be over-emphasised. In fact, at one time before 1947, it was being called the Esperanto of India. 
  
Fortunately, due to the foresight of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Urdu is still one of the official languages of this democratic republic recognised by the Constitution. However, it is gasping for breath and needs measures for its resuscitation. 
  
The importance of this language cannot be over-emphasised. It is the medium of instruction in the courts and official language in Jammu and Kashmir. It is in the vital interest of this country that strong cultural and linguistic ties with Jammu and Kashmir be maintained and further strengthened. Good knowledge of Urdu can be of vital help for this purpose. This point deserves close consideration by the Government of India and state governments. 
  
Pakistan is not our permanent enemy. It would be in the interest of this country and this region that amity is restored between the two great nations of South Asia. Therefore, for a proper understanding of the culture and ethos of the Pakistani people and our effective communication with them Urdu can be a useful medium. For that matter, Urdu is understood in Afghanistan, the Central Asian Republics and Middle East, in the age of globalisation, knowledge of Urdu can assist Indians in communicating with these nationalities, especially when India is staking claim to be an emerging super power. 
  
One of the remarks made by Justice Katju is that one should not be too rigid about the script. Possible suggestion appears to be that Devnagari script may be adopted for Urdu. In fact, one school of Hindi scholars and men of letters have already suggested that the entire corpus of Urdu literature may be adopted/adapted as part of Hindu literature. The suggestion appears to be pragmatic. But one wonders whether Urdu will survive after divorcing its script. 
  
It is laudable that at the Centre of Indian Languages in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Persian script is being taught to the students of Hindi and Devnagari script to the students of Urdu compulsorily. Similar steps can be adopted in the colleges and universities of Punjab. 
  
Under-graduate students of Punjabi and Hindi languages should be imparted skills at least to read and write Urdu in Persian sceipt. At the post graduate levels of these languages, a compulsory paper in Urdu can be prescribed for taking Master’s degree. This would broaden the mental horizon of the post-graduate students of these languages because in essence, the literature of all the three languages—Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu—has a common pedigree. 
  
Almost the entire pre-1947 land records of the Revenue Department in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh is in Urdu. For want of adequate knowledge of this language by the Patwaris and Revenue Officers of the present generation, the condition of maintenance of land revenue record in these states has deteriorated. Therefore, the officials of this departments need to be encouraged to acquire skills in Urdu language which would be quite useful and helpful to them in the discharge of their official duties. They would feel encouraged in this direction if they are given one or two special increments for acquiring knowledge in this language. 
  
Similarly, the Punjabi and Hindi teachers in Punjab, especially at the college and university level may be encouraged to learn Urdu, which would result in their better performance in teaching these languages. These and such other modest measures may help re-establish and sustain some link of the future generations with Urdu, which at one time was the lingua franca of this country. Complete break with the past in not conducive to the cultural development of a nation. 
  
The writer is a former District and Sessions Judge, Chandigarh 
 
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080831/edit.htm#1