By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: The annual cultural and literary show Urdu ke Aangan MeiN was jointly inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Mr. Prithviraj Chavan and Prof. (Mrs.) Fauzia Tahseen Khan, state minister of Cultural Affairs and Minorities Development in Parbhani district of Maharashtra.
The show was organized for four days from October 7-10, 2011 in the Urdu Nagri of the Parbhani District. This cultural-cum-educational programme is mainly aimed at showing the relevance of the Urdu language, its history and its deep impact on the culture of the people in general. This is the second exhibition as Urdu ke Angan MeiN was first organized in Aurangabad in 2010.
According to a Press release the Urdu ke Aangan MeiN is the result of the creative thinking of Prof. (Mrs.) Fauzia Tahseen Khan, who is known for her commitment to the cause of the weaker sections of society. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr. Prithviraj Chavan graced this programme along with other Ministers and political leaders.
The programme started with the beautiful songs of the three youth singers of Parbhani. Former Minister of Auqaf, Mazhar Husain in his inaugural address appreciated the role of the State government vis-à-vis Urdu. Then the Iftikha-e-Millat Award was given to six social activists and scholars by the Chief Minister.
In her address in the presence of the Chief Minister Mr. Chavan, Mrs. Fauzia Khan said that Urdu ke Aangan MeiN is an attempt aimed at ‘discovering the self’. She recognised that the State government is doing a lot with good intentions but many things remain to be done by it. She asked the government to raise the budget share for millions of minorities. She demanded to create Minority Directorate for the welfare of minorities along with other demands for girls, women, education and health. The Chief Minister launched Contact Number 102 for the people of Maharashtra to call Ambulance for the deliveries of babies with all expenses.
Health Minister Mr. Suresh Shetti announced from the stage to launch for the first time in the history of Maharashtra, Call No. 108 to call Ambulance with doctors to reach the house within 20 minutes.
About 10 to 12 children of 5/6 years of age strolled to the Chief Minister with a charter of demands which was read out by Mr. Khalid Saifuddin. The demands included: raising the budget for minorities, acceptance of the Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission Report, Minority Welfare Directorate, to accept Urdu as the second language and nominate Dilip Kumar for Bharat Ratna award.
The Chief Minister announced various health schemes. He said that Urdu is the language of India and its is a special language of the country. It was a link language during the British rule and it has valuable contributions to the freedom struggle of India. He promised that there will be no scarcity of the fund. Minority Welfare Directorate will be established soon and officers will be deputed in the minority concentrated districts. He said that the demands made here will be discussed seriously in the cabinet meeting. He expressed his feelings of Bhaichara at this grand function. He stressed on protecting the friendly environment which is being challenged by some parties and groups.
On the cultural and educational fronts, famous poets, Ghazal singers, Qawwals and folk singers made their presentations in Urdu ke Aangan MeiN. There were also seminars on the right to education, protection of culture, language and branches of arts. Daf Marfa (Arabic music and song) was presented by the Chaush community of Parbhani, who had joined the services of the Nizam as security guards after migrating from Yemen. Dholak ke Geet, Nada-e-Faqeer, Urdu ka Chaupal, Urdu ka Jadoo, programmes were also organized which identified the uniqueness of the Urdu language and its followers.
This unique programme has a great future not only in Maharashtra but also in the whole country which can be imitated by other States. It was organized in the District but its impact national. Such programmes would certainly boost the values and principles of communal harmony and national integration in India, the release added. ([email protected])