Emiment media personalities highlighted the contribution of Urdu newspapers in two centuries of its existence in India.
Musheera Ashraf | TwoCircles.net
HYDERABAD — An event celebrating the completion of 200 years of Urdu journalism was held at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) in Hyderabad. The event organised by the university’s Mass Communication and Journalism department highlighted the contribution of Urdu journalism in two centuries of its existence.
The event was held as part of MANUU’s year-long bicentenary celebration “Karwaane-Urdu Sahafat”. The celebration ended with a 3- day conference which included the Urdu Media Conclave and the Urdu Media Summit. During the event, eminent media personalities spoke about different aspects of Urdu journalism and media.
“The event is a celebration of the glorious past and promising future of Urdu Journalism,” Professor Ehtesham Ahmed Khan, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Hyderabad said on the occasion.
Speakers highlighted that from 1822 to 2022, Urdu journalism in the country has seen may ups and downs but it has continued its legacy of being the voice of the voiceless. “Be it the freedom struggle, the police action in Hyderabad, the period of Emergency or other critical events in India, Urdu Newspapers have been a part and parcel of people’s lives in highlighting their points of view,” a speaker said.
Amer Ali Khan, News Editor of The Siyasat said Urdu Newspapers are still loved and cherished by the people.
“In the past people wanted to listen to what Urdu papers revealed and these papers informed a big section of society, and that continues till now,” he said.
Khan claimed that “despite poisonous communal gases being spread in India, it is only the editors of Urdu Newspapers who dare to question the status quo.”
He said that if editors of English publications try to go against the government they are made to resign. “Same is the not the case with Urdu newspapers,” he said.
Senior journalist and author Shakeel Hasan Shamsi said that “Urdu newspapers are not in such a bad condition (as is being portrayed).”
“The situation is good for those who want to pursue Urdu journalism wholeheartedly and sincerely,” he said.
Speakers said that Urdu journalism has a bright future if done with responsibility.
“Urdu journalism has made a mark by covering civic issues well. The main focus of the most successful Urdu papers now is to hightlight the challenges faced by the society and how to build our society,” Amer Ali Khan added.
Musheera Ashraf is a special correspondent with TwoCircles.net. She tweets @Musheera_Ashraf