By Mohd. Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net,
Hyderabad: On 7th February when 1965 war veteran and known Telangana state activist Captain Panduranga Reddy went on the stage of Osmania University convocation ceremony few were surprised to see 70 year old getting his Doctorate of Philosophy degree. But many more were surprised when he refused to accept his PhD Degree citing injustice to Urdu language in Osmania University.
Captain Reddy politely refused to accept his doctorate degree and handed over a letter addressed to Andhra Pradesh Governor, who is the Chancellor of Osmania University. Mr. Reddy in his letter to governor said “Urdu is an integral to the identity of this region. Its removal from the emblem is irrational and without justification considering the fact that the university was the first in the country to have started courses in Indian languages.”
Captain Panduranga Reddy returning his Doctorate Degree
Reddy’s action brought the debate of decaying importance of Urdu in the university which was first in the nation to promote education in Urdu medium. Reddy registered his protest stating that even Urdu language is being dropped off from the emblem of the University.
Speaking to TCN, Captain Reddy, who is also member of Royal Asiatic club of Britain and Ireland, said he was disheartened to witness Urdu losing its right place in Telangana region. He said Urdu is not a foreign language but purely an Indian one which is now unfortunately totally being communalized and associated with particular religion and community.
He said during the period of Asif Jahi rule or Nizam dynasty Urdu was promoted on the path with other regional languages in Hyderabad state. Asif Jahi rulers didn’t discourage any regional languages, and Urdu took the shape of another regional language.
Captain Reddy said after annexation of Hyderabad into India, Nizam’s crown from the emblem of Osmania University was removed which was understandable as India is a democracy. But slowly Urdu inscription was removed from the emblem; Urdu medium courses were changed to English and gradually the language become extinct from the mainstream functioning of the university.
Old logo of Osmania University
When Osmania University was formed its emblem contained on the top Nizam turra (crown) of Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam and the founder of Osmania University. The crown was surrounded by wandering beams of lights and the words “Noorun Ala Noor” were printed in Arabic depicting the phrase knowledge is light. And above it was Arabic inscription of Prophet Mohammed (SAW) words which states: “I am the city of Knowledge and Ali is its gate”
The center of the emblem had the Urdu letter “Ain” depicting the first letter of the name of Nizam Osman Ali Khan. The last Nizam used to affix his signature by using Urdu letter ‘Ain’. On both sides and on the lower portion of the emblem the words “Jamia Osmania” in Urdu and Osmania University in English was inscribed
After the police action or operation Polo of Indian Army and fall of Hyderabad state, legacy of Urdu was removed step by step from Osmania University. Only Urdu letter ‘Ain’ was left. The present emblem contains inscriptions in Telugu and also in Hindi, which is rare in state university in South India where people are not very fond of Hindi.
Panduranga Reddy who was the first to change the theory of police action into Indian Military action on Hyderabad state has worked on his thesis on state reorganization with special focus on Telangana. Reddy said it took him three years to complete his thesis and have to work hard to insert original documents from state reorganization period in his thesis.
New logo of Osmania University
But Reddy who scored 70%, a rare achievement in social studies thesis, has no regret on returning back his degree. He said he hope that his action will provoke the youths of Telangana to fight for retain back their own distinct culture and identity.
It’s too early to say whether Captain Reddy’s action has motivated people of Telangana but one thing it did for sure is build up pressure on Osmania University administration in answering serious questions on the position of Urdu.
On 11th February Osmania University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Satyanarayana in Milad-un-Nabi function of minority students union OU said that orders has been issued to enquire on the reasons for changing emblem of OU which according to him was done some 30 years back. Satyanarayana also assured that university administration will take measures to bring back Urdu in the mainstream of University courses.
Panduranga Reddy felt that severe injustice has been done to Urdu, which is a national language in 8th Schedule of our Constitution. He also said that not only in national level but even in regional level Urdu is made to suffer to destroy plural culture of the natives.
Captain Reddy has demanded from the Andhra Pradesh Government to implement its second state language Urdu and popularize its education. He advised people to learn and spread Urdu which is a Hindustani language as described by many freedom fighters including Mahatma Gandhi.