By TCN News,
Aligarh: The Millat Bedari Muhim Committee (MBMC) organized a two-day national seminar on “Role of Urdu Language in Secular Independent India” in collaboration with National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL), Jamia Urdu Aligarh, CCSILC AMU & the Aligarh Movement (Bilingual Monthly Magazine) at Arts Faculty Lounge, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.
Jasim Mohammad delivering Introductory speach
Secretary of MBMC & Chief Convener of the National Seminar Jasim Mohammad welcomed eminent scholars and intellectuals who had come to participate the seminar from far flung areas. He dwelled upon the qualities of Urdu in detail and hoped that this two-day seminar will certainly address the problems faced by Urdu language. He pointed out that though Urdu is the language of love and unity some people have denigrated it and the government is failing in discharging its responsibilities.
Chief Guest of the national seminar Sahitya Akademi Awardee Prof. Abul Kalam Qasmi said that whatever we are witnessing with Urdu today is the result of our own behavior in yesteryears with those who were not well versed in Urdu. He said that a glorious language has shrunken so much that presently it is of only Muslims. He praised Israel and said that Hebrew language had died but after Israel became a reality, they worked hard to develop it. Prof. Qasmi said that today forty percent words of Hindi are in fact from Urdu. He said that if we identify our own shortcomings then one bad person will become good one.
Prof. Abul Kalam Qasmi
Guest of Honour Eminent Journalist, Critic and grandson of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Firoz Bakht Ahmad criticized those who weep for Urdu but do nothing. He said: I learnt Urdu from my mother. He said that I appeal to those Professors who travel to Tronto and England for promoting Urdu for taking interest in teaching Urdu at home.
Internationally renowned Urdu Critic and Writer of Patna, Prof Wahab Ashrafi discussed the word ‘secular’ during delivarence of key-note address and said that the first book of Urdu “kadam rao padam rao” authored by Nizami was based on that conception of secularism. He said that gulf between Urdu and Hindi was made in Fort William College by inducing Lallu Lal ji to write partial books. He said that we have kicked out Urdu from our homes. First we should re-establish it in our own homes then launch the movement to save it.
Audience
Secretary of Hazrat Ameer Khusro Education Society Prof. Syed Iqbal Ali while discussing political history of India said that in fact since the very beginning of independence Urdu is being ill treated. He cited the names of Parsuram Tandon, Raj Bihari Tondon and Govind Vallabh Pant who left no stone unturned to finish Urdu language from Indian canvas. He said that it was only Sir Syed who not only made efforts to save the language but also worked hard to develop it.