Urdu in India in the 21st Century: A Historian's Perspective

Abstract

These verses from an unpublished nazm of one Raashid Banaarsii encapsulate themes that are explicit or implicit in any discussion of the place of Urdu in independent India. One theme of course is the charm and beauty of the language, which even these modest verses illustrate as well as assert. Few would dispute that Urdu is indeed one of the flowers whose beauty is essential to any linguistic garden. Secondly, the poem points to the accusation that Urdu is an outsider, not our "ham vatan." This the poet stoutly denies. Related to this is the spoken or unspoken assumption that Urdu is a Muslim language. The poet is prepared to recognize that there is sectarian chauvinism on the part of spokesmen shaikh o brahman for some groups, but expresses himself dumbfounded that a language could be mistaken for such a person! All of these points deserve attention as does one not alluded to in the poem but at the center of any discussion of Urdu held in the spirit of Dr. Zakir Husain. That of course is the theme of Urdu as a medium of instruction whose only goal should be reaching the maximum number of students coupled with providing the methods