By Manzar Bilal, TwoCitrcles.net,
Patna: Read manifestos for ongoing Bihar assembly election by all major parties—RJD-LJP, JD-U, Congress, NCP and BJP— and you will find tall promises for development of Urdu, ironically the second official language of the state. But unlike Charity Begins at Home, you can hardly find campaign materials of these parties in Urdu.
You would find them promising to establish Urdu schools in Muslim areas, to make the language mandatory in school education and to publish official advertisements in it like other languages, but unlike previous ones in this election you would hardly see election posters, banners, hoardings and other election publicity items in Urdu even in Muslim dominated areas.
You will find many stalls selling election publicity items near party offices in Patna. The stalls are full to capacity with several kinds of publicity items but if you ask about availability of such items in Urdu, they will excuse you with disappointing face. This shows parties lack sincere interest in Urdu.
Urdu, which is still battling for its implementation on ground level in the state, was declared as second official language in 1981. Since then before every election political parties had been including it in the agenda for political gain but failed to keep the word after coming to power. Consequently, its status is going down from bad to worse. Not to speak about appointment of new Urdu officials, the present Urdu officials were given some other responsibility. So, now it is almost impossible to get your work done in Urdu in any government departments.
Promises about Urdu in manifestos
RJD-LJP: The party has made 8 promises regarding Urdu. They include making Urdu a medium of writing in all examinations conducted by the State Public Service Commission, appointment of Urdu speaking officials at every police station, publishing all official advertisement in Urdu too and putting sign boards of all government departments as well as roads in Urdu along with other languages.
JD-U: The party will appoint Urdu teachers at all primary and middle schools in the state.
Congress: The party accorded second official language to Urdu but did nothing to implement it. Now it promises to take serious notice of development of Urdu and Urdu knowing people in the state.
BJP: For the development of the minority community, government as well as semi-government agencies like Minority Commission, Urdu Academy, Urdu Advisory Council, Bhar Madarsa Board and Wakf Board will be strengthened, the party promises in its manifesto.
NCP: The Sharad Pawar-led party will increase fund for Urdu Academy to make it affective and recruit Urdu translators.
[Photos by Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net]