Sudha Pai in 2002 stated, 바카라If a language is not characterised by political neutrality, it too often becomes the tool by which this language group seeks to extend its domination over the minority community.바카라
Urdu, a language that thrived across centuries in the past, spoken by millions in India, has experienced a steady yet undeniable fall in its usage over the years. The decline of Urdu in contemporary India is a matter of considerable worry, given its rich literary heritage, profound ties to the nation바카라s cultural and historical foundations, and its former prominence as a symbol of social identity.
In 2017, a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) corporator of the Aligarh Municipal Corporation (AMC) was reportedly referred to as a 바카라Pakistani바카라 and threatened with violence after he took his oath in Urdu at the AMC. The case demonstrates that although originating and evolving in the Indian subcontinent, Urdu has been projected as being the language of outsiders. In the light of the language challenges in India, we reflect on Ralph Russell바카라s piece 바카라India since Independence,바카라 published in the Economic and Political Weekly (EPW) in January 1999.
Russell, a dedicated scholar of the language, prompted Syed Shahabuddin, Ali Imran Zaidi, Salman Khurshid, and M. N. Venkatachaliah to address issues regarding the state of the Urdu language in the pages of EPW in the following months through his piece. Amidst the consensus and dissent, the scholars have illuminated significant factors hindering the development of Urdu since the partition in 1947. This discourse provides insight into a persistent issue affecting the language chosen for expression and study by the forthcoming generation of Urdu speakers, academicians and authors. This article seeks to examine the mechanisms contributing to this decrease, the repercussions for the language, and its overall effect on India바카라s social and cultural diversity.
The Zenith That Urdu Witnessed
Urdu, as we know, originated from the amalgamation of Persian, Arabic, and Turkish languages with indigenous Indian dialects, primarily in northern India, during the Mughal era. It swiftly attained importance in the courts of emperors such as Akbar, and subsequently evolved into the language of poetry, governance, and culture. Urdu was regarded as the language of elegance and sophistication. The literary contributions of eminent Urdu poets such as Mirza Ghalib, Allama Iqbal, and Faiz Ahmed Faiz in poetry, alongside prose stalwarts like Ismat Chughtai and Saadat Hasan Manto, exemplify the cultural richness as well as the artistic elegance of the language. Prior to India바카라s Independence, Urdu was extensively spoken among various communities, including Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and others. The influence of Urdu broke barriers and extended beyond northern India, manifesting in prominent Indian cities such as Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Chennai. During the colonial times, Urdu was employed in the educational system, and numerous prominent nationalist figures, including members of the Muslim League, wrote works in Urdu and also communicated their ideas in the Urdu language.
The 1947 partition of India marked a critical point for Urdu. After the establishment of Pakistan, which designated Urdu as its national language, the language바카라s affiliation with Muslims became increasingly evident. The political partition of India resulted in the marginalisation of Urdu, which now came to be seen as a 바카라Muslim language바카라. In the decades that followed, Urdu diminished in popularity among the predominantly Hindu populace, who embraced Hindi as their most preferred language. Although Urdu persisted for some time in the Muslim-majority areas, including the pockets of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Hyderabad, it, however, lost popularity among younger generations. This was exacerbated by the ascendance of Hindi as the language of modernity, media, and national dialogue in post-independent India. The designation of Hindi as the official language of the nation further marginalised Urdu, relegating it to the fringe of mainstream public life. The marginalisation of Urdu, and at the same time the endorsement of Hindi and English, has had a huge impact on those who are speaking Urdu in this day and age. Poet Rahat Indori recognises this impact in his couplet as:
اب کہاں وہ اُردو بولنے والے
اب تو لہجہ بھی ہندی سا لگتا ہے۔
(Where are those who once spoke pristine Urdu? Even their accent appears somewhat similar to Hindi now)
The fact is that when the speakers of a particular language remain few and far between, the effect of the majoritarian language over their language is certain, and that바카라s what happened to the flourishing language, Urdu. The slow demise of Urdu in India is difficult to understand without acknowledging its affiliations with religion and politics. The language바카라s connection to Muslim identity has hindered many Hindus from adopting it, particularly in the post-partition Indian society.
Former Vice President of India Hamid Ansari in October 2022 stated that evidence has been gathered indicating a reluctance to incorporate Urdu into the curriculum and to hire Urdu teachers in primary and secondary schools. This is particularly visible in my own state of Uttar Pradesh and in Delhi; nevertheless, it differs in states such as Maharashtra, Bihar, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, he stated. Ansari referenced former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who in July 1958, communicated with state chief ministers, characterising the phenomenon as 바카라a pettiness of mind, narrowness in outlook, and an immaturity that characterises a deliberate attempt to push out Urdu which is spoken by a large number of people바카라.
In modern India, Urdu is perceived as a language of the marginalised, especially within the Muslim population. Notwithstanding its extensive literary and cultural legacy, the language has failed to attain a significant position within contemporary educational and employment frameworks. Urdu is sometimes perceived as being the regional or community-specific language, constraining its accessibility to non-Muslims and non-Urdu speakers.
The supremacy of Hindi and English in Indian media, education and administration has led to the decline of Urdu. Hindi has emerged as the predominant language of Bollywood, governmental discourse, and media in many regions, but English is regarded as the medium of global trade and modernity. The allure of Urdu, previously seen as a refined and prestigious language, has been eclipsed by the precedence the prevailing languages received.
Despite its great historical significance, Urdu has garnered very little institutional support in India in the recent decades. Although Hindi has been vigorously promoted by government policy, Urdu has not enjoyed equivalent support. Urdu newspapers, literature, and educational institutions have faced challenges in flourishing due to inadequate funding and governmental backing. The absence of institutional infrastructure has also impeded the development and accessibility of the Urdu language. In the vicinity of the historical Jama Masjid, Delhi, the Urdu Bazar that once echoed with the couplets of Ghalib and Faiz, has also witnessed a massive decline, as the number of Urdu book shops has now diminished to a few stores. Poet Jagan Nath Azad summarises the glory as well as the gloom of Urdu language in his following couplet:
اُردو جو کبھی زینت ِ محفل تھی جہاں کی
اب گوشہٕ تنہائی میں شرمندہ کھڈی ہے۔
(Urdu, once an ornament of every gathering, now hides itself in a corner, disregarded and solitary.)
The younger population in India, especially in urban regions, is increasingly disinclined to learn or communicate in Urdu. The impact of Western culture, the proliferation of internet platforms in English and Hindi, and the prevailing preference for economically advantageous languages have contributed to the decline of interest in Urdu. Furthermore, the younger population is inclined to favour languages perceived as emblems of advancement, mobility, and global interconnectedness, such as English and Hindi.
Raees Amrohvi, an Urdu scholar, laments the decline of Urdu as:
اب اردو بولنے والے کہاں
اس زبان کے قدرداں ہی مر گیے ۔۔
(Gone are the adorners of Urdu, it longs for those who once cherished it, now passed away)
Renowned author Mujtaba Hussain once remarked at a seminar that the condition of Urdu in India is dire. His narrative 바카라Dimakon ki mallika se ek mulaqat바카라 (A Meeting with the Queen of Termites) revolves around the queen of termites residing in the neglected Urdu books of a library. After satisfying her thirst by devouring the works of prominent Urdu authors, she developed an appreciation for Urdu literature. The narrator recognises that only termites currently maintain a link to this language. The relationship is not merely contributing to collective forgetfulness, but has also fostered a cultural resistance.
The fall of Urdu signifies a loss of a vital component of India바카라s cultural and literary legacy. Language serves not merely as a medium of communication, but also as a repository of profound poetry, music, theatre, and philosophy. The decline of Urdu in popular culture suggests that the contributions of great writers, poets, and thinkers may go unrecognised by the coming generations. The deterioration of Urdu has aggravated social division in India. The language has historically served as a cohesive element for groups transcending religious, social, and linguistic divides. The diminishing presence of Urdu exacerbates the split among diverse communities, particularly amid increasing religious and cultural polarisation.
Urdu has historically served as a significant source of cultural pride and identification for the Muslim population in India. As the language declines in significance, numerous Muslims experience a disconnection from their cultural and linguistic heritage. This impacts both their identification and their involvement in India바카라s national discourse.
The deterioration of Urdu in India is a complicated subject, stemming from historical, political, social, and cultural issues. The language, previously a channel linking diverse cultures in India, is now relegated in favour of Hindi and English. This decline presents substantial challenges to the preservation of a vital aspect of India바카라s linguistic and cultural diversity.
To counter this trend, concerted efforts are required from all areas of society. Languages are not only instruments of communication; they also encapsulate the essence of culture, history, and identity. Promoting Urdu through education, media, literature, and governmental policy is essential for its continued flourishing in a multicultural India. Ultimately, conserving Urdu transcends mere linguistic conservation; it entails the protection of a rich and diversified cultural heritage that is integral to the multicultural nation of India.
My unpublished couplet:
تھا جو اثاثہ غالب، میر و فیض کا فقط دل میں رہا
اُردو تہزیب کا ہندوستان میں اب نہ آشیانہ رہا
(The legacy of Ghalib, Mir, and Faiz today resides solely in the hearts. In Hindustan, Urdu no longer possesses a cultural home)
(The author is a Research Scholar, Department of History and Culture, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi)
(Views expressed are personal)
