Saturday, December 18, 2010

‘Role of Urdu Language in Secular Independent India’













National Seminar

on

‘Role of Urdu Language in Secular Independent India’

January 29-30, 2011

at

Media Centre, Aligarh

Organized by:

Millat Bedari Muhim Committee (MBMC), Aligarh in collaboration with National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language [NCPUL], Ministry of HRD, Government of India, New Delhi, Jamia Urdu, Aligarh and The Aligarh Movement [National Bilingual Monthly]

Theme Paper

India became a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic on January 26, 1950 and the Constitution that we gave to ourselves assured us sustainable growth of our languages as well as their preservation. Urdu is one of the languages which have always attracted attention of not only common man but scholars, poets and freedom fighter.

Urdu had a unique place in pre-independence India when our freedom struggle was going on and it was commonly used for the purposes of propagation and communication during freedom movement. No one can forget “sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil mein hai” rendered by Ram Prasad Bismil.

The condition of Urdu deteriorated and a section of society put emphasis on Hindi after independence. Slowly but surely, the status of Urdu went down. However, India was still moving ahead with Urdu in arms. Our theatres, films, songs, cultural traits all have directly supported Urdu and they use Urdu as their medium.

If we deeply analyse history of Urdu, we will find that the language is the end product of liberalism, secularism and broadmindedness. It is a mixture of Arabic, Persian, khari boli etc. Urdu has always united people. It has been used in slogans to arouse passions.

Another unfortunate angle of the Urdu debate is that some people try to associate it with partition. They fail to assert that during the period Urdu was a common language. All languages have their own culture. Urdu has enhanced Indian culture in various ways.

Our governments, both Central as well as State, have formulated policies to improve the status of Urdu but the efforts have failed to produce the desired results. The Urdu language has provided a secular and democratic base to Indian society. A large number of people has avowed that Urdu is the best medium to secularise the society.

While there is no doubt that Urdu as a language has played a great role in pre and post independence India, there is a dire need of assessing its role and provide it a meaningful sustainable direction for realizing the concept of a better and strong India and to translate constitutional secularism into ground realities.

The Sachar Committee in its report also expressed its views on the issue and recommended that the government must adopt concrete and positive attitude towards growth of Urdu. It has been documented that the government has done whatever it thought to be necessary but today we must reanalyze the whole issue and decide the direction to which we wish to carry it in a free and powerful India.

To ponder over, debate and draw a thoughtful programme, the Millat Bedari Muhim Committee (MBMC), Aligarh in collaboration with National Council for Promotion for Urdu Language [NCPUL], Ministry of HRD, Government of India, New Delhi, Jamia Urdu Aligarh & The Aligarh Movement [National Bilingual Monthly] has decided to hold a two-day national seminar on “Role of Urdu Language in Secular Independent India” on Saturday & Sunday, January 29-30, 2011 at Media Centre, Muzammil Manzil Complex, Dodhpur, Aligarh.

Sub-Themes of the seminar as under:

ü Urdu in Media

ü Role of Urdu in multi-religious society and polity

ü Urdu for sustainable peaceful Indian society based on co-existence.

ü Role of Urdu in Politics and society.

ü Relationship of Urdu with other Indian languages.

ü Urdu and National Integration

ü Role of Urdu in International Diplomacy

ü Conflict management and Urdu in India

ü Urdu linked to professionalism and employment

ü Possibilities of Urdu in Higher Education

ü Relationship of Urdu with Administration and Judiciary in India.

Everyone who has concern for the Urdu language and development of the nation must fight and think about whole issue. You are requested to submit your paper before 20th January, 2011.

Details Contact:

Jasim Mohammad

Seminar Coordinator

MEDIA CENTRE

16 [1st Floor], Muzammil Manzil Complex

Dodhpur, Aligarh- 202002

Call: 099970 63595, 87555 47603