By Mohd Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net,
Hyderabad: Subject to immense pressure Maulana Azad National Urdu University [MANUU] has amended its rule making knowledge of Urdu language necessary to apply for teaching posts. The controversy started when MANUU on 27 February 2012 issued a notification making Urdu knowledge not obligatory for teaching posts in the university and instead a new rule was drafted which allowed the recruited teachers to clear a certificate course in Urdu from any recognized institution within a prescribed period after taking charge as teaching staff in the university. Earlier SC/ST candidates were given this privilege, but with this notification the rule was generalized.
That notification resulted in huge out cry from various adorers of Urdu as they thought this change will impact the very base of the country’s first Urdu University, many felt that the agency set up for preserving and propagating Urdu is itself letting it down. The University notification was against its own rules, as sec 4 of the Maulana Azad National Urdu University act 1996 says that candidates for teaching staff post should have the ability to teach in Urdu which should be judged by the selection committee at the time of interview, and it asks the candidates to even demonstrate their ability in reading, writing, understanding and teaching in Urdu language.
MANUU teachers association who were up against non-Urdu staff getting into the university sensed the death knell of the language in the University. They alleged that, since Vice Chancellor Mohd Miyan took over, he is trying every bit to fill the university with non-Urdu staffs as he himself is not well versed in the language. But according to Mohd Miyan, the decision to incorporate non-Urdu speakers in the university is primarily to get diverse intellectual skills which he feels the University badly needs. He believes it is difficult to find such skilled teachers, if the focus is on a qualification in a particular language.
But after the teachers association and various other organization working for the promotion of Urdu organized protests, the University constituted a committee to look into the issue. The committee consisted of eminent Urdu intellectuals like Professor Suleman Sikander (former Vice Chancellor of Osmania University), Prof Mazheruddin, Prof Amena Qauser and Prof Abdul Qhayoom. The committee recommended the VC to amend the notification and restore the rider of Urdu for teachers post as they believed any such innovations would affect the very essentials of the university.
It seems like the University authorities now fears protests and disturbances during the fourth convocation ceremony of the University to be addressed by Union HRD Minister, Kapil Sibal on 4th March and the amendment of the notification based on the recommendations of the high level committee is believed to be under the wake of this call.
As per the fresh notification the candidates who have learnt Urdu until 12th or graduation will be eligible to apply for the teaching posts. This indeed is a sigh of relief for all Urdu lovers, but till at what length this reprieve will continue, will be an interesting thing to watch for.