By TCN Special Correspondent,
Lucknow: Ask any Muslim and there is a common notion that Urdu language is losing its sheen and acceptability. The language is dying with number of Urdu litterateurs dwindling. However, noted poet and Gyanpeeth award winner Akhlaq Mohammad Khan, more popular as Shaharyar, differs from the common perception.
The poet, known for his lyrics in film Daman ‘Seene Mein Jalan Aankhon mein Toofan Sa kyon Hai’ was in the city for attending a felicitation ceremony at Urdu Department of Lucknow University on Tuesday. He is also known for his memorable ghazals in the film Umrao Jaan –‘In ankhon ki masti key diwaney hazaron hai.’
“This is misnomer and propaganda regarding Urdu language just to seek concessions. The language has always been an urban language and it has gained more acceptability and respect in present era,” Shaharyar said. He justifies his claim over the growing number of Urdu channels, magazines and newspapers in the society. “If it has lost acceptability why will people invest in ventures which have no takers. Even the universities are now offering PG courses and advanced research in Urdu. Foreign students are also showing keen interest in it, we just need to have excellence in the language,” said Shaharyar.
Lashing out at the people who claim that Urdu language was in a sorry state, he retorted: “These people who clamour about the language dying down do not know it themselves. In fact they cannot even speak Urdu words properly.” Making a point, the poet stated ‘Aaj ka din bahut achcha nahin taslim hai- Aane wale din bahut behtar hain meri rai hai'(It is accepted that today is not so bright but I am convinced that tomorrow will be better.)
The poet who was bestowed Bharatiya Jnanpith Award for the year 2008 for his work in Urdu language showered praises on the language terming it as a ‘secular’ language for its easy acceptability and adoptability of words from others languages. “The language has the highest number of sounds among all the languages prevalent in the world,” he said. As per his view, anyone knowing Urdu can learn any other language of the world for its easy reception of sounds.