By M. Reyaz, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: The new General Secretary of Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu (Hind), Dr Ather Farouqi hopes to revive the organisation to its ‘glorious’ days and work towards promotion of Urdu language by means of adab in a ‘secular manner’ to spread the language beyond confines of a particular faith.
The Anjuman has a network of over 620 branches throughout the country.
Farouqi formally assumed the charge on November 2. Since September 17, 2012 he was officiating as secretary.
Dr Ather Farouqi
Over last couple of years the Anjuman, however, is going through a low phase. His predecessor, Dr. Khaliq Anjum was not keeping well for some times now. The new general secretary acknowledges the challenges, but is confident he can revive the organisation to its rightful place.
Speaking to TCN Farouqi said: “I have taken this responsibility with a single vision and agenda of conforming Urdu to its rightful claim of being a secular language.”
He acknowledges that the politics over language led to the denigrated condition that Urdu finds itself today, but also blames the ‘community’ who do not seem interested in promoting it.
“On mere hearsay of burning of religious books, Muslim brethren go on rampage, without verifying the fact. But no one is willing to even stand up and demand that Urdu be included in curriculum and taught in schools,” he tells this reporter.
While he appreciates the fact that after independence Urdu has thrived primarily in madrassa, but “it also confines them to a particular faith,” he argues. He hence wants it to be taught even in school as a ‘functional language.’
Farouqi believes that in a secular country like India, Urdu should be promoted as an adab and not as language of a particular community. The irony, however, is that although he does not want Urdu to be only associated with Muslims, but he also wants the ‘community’ to stand up or its rightful place.
It’s been just few days since he assumed charges, but he assures that once he makes himself familiar in his new office, he will do everything possible to promote the language.
When asked if we will see more seminars, conferences, mushairas, he requested for some time before he can detail out his plans.
Ather Farouqi:
Dr Ather Farouqi has a doctorate from Jawaharlal Nehru University and has two edited books published: Redefining Urdu politics in India (2006) and Muslims and media images (2009). He also translated into Urdu the English play of Salman Khurshid “Sons of Babur,” as “Babur Ki Aulad.”
Since 1997 he has been working as an administrator with the Delhi Public School Society, and has helped it grow and establish several branches, including two in Saudi Arabia.
He regularly writes articles on Muslim issues for various papers and journals with ‘Marxist angle.’
Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu (Hind):
The autonomous ‘association for promotion of Urdu’ owes its origin to the All India Muslim Educational Conference, set up by the nineteenth century reformer and educationist Sir Sayed Ahmed Khan in 1886.
Many 20th century luminaries, including Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, Dr. Zakir Husain, Allama Shibli Nomani, Maulana Altaf Husain Hali, Maulana Abul Kalama Azad were all associated with it in different capacities.
The Anjuman has counted Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Indar Kuamr Gujral, among others as its patrons.
Dr Zakir Hussain had led a signature campaign of over 22 lakhs signatories for the ‘rightful place’ for Urdu.
It houses a rich library and publishes many risalas or journals like ‘Urdu,’ ‘Hamari Zaban.’ It also brings out a quarterly ‘Urdu Adab.’ Besides from time to time it has brought out several special numbers of ‘Hamari Zaban.’
The last secretary of the Anjuman, Dr. Khaliq Anjum has written a book on the history of the organisation, which is under publication.