By Asit Srivastava, IANS,
Lucknow : The Urdu language has long been associated with poetry and literature in India. But now it will also be a medium of learning science in schools and madrassas, thanks to the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
AMU has decided to translate science textbooks prescribed by various education boards of the country – like the CBSE, ICSE and the Uttar Pradesh board – into Urdu.
“Urdu already has a remarkable contribution in poetry and literature. Now, we aim to promote the language for the benefit of science subjects also,” Rahat Abrar, an AMU spokesperson, told IANS on telephone from Aligarh.
The move is aimed at popularising science among madrassa students. The translated science books will also be made available to general schools across the country.
Initially, AMU will translate the textbooks of primary classes. Later, the translation will be done for higher classes, said AMU sources.
The translation would be undertaken by the varsity’s Urdu Academy that is funded by the union human resource development ministry.
“The ministry has provided us Rs.40 million in financial assistance for promotion of the Urdu language. The translation that would be shortly undertaken is one of the exercises of our Urdu promotion programme,” said Qazi Afzal Husain, a professor who is one of the members of the team entrusted with the translation.
Other members of the team include officials of the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language(NCPUL), professors from various universities of the country and teachers of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
“During the translation, there will be an emphasis on coining Urdu words for scientific terminologies. Once we are through with the translation process, you will have Urdu terminologies for every scientific phenomenon like `photosynthesis’, `respiration’, `transpiration’ and others,” said Husain.
He added that taking into account the students of primary classes, Urdu terminology would be kept lucid so that students do not face any difficulty in learning it.
AMU officials said that in the next two months, AMU planned to hold workshops on Urdu translation in Hyderabad. “The main objective behind the workshops is to share a common platform with the Urdu experts who can assist us in our translation project,” the officials added.