Urdu needs to be promoted in all spheres of life

Islamabad

Urdu as a national language needs to be promoted in all spheres of life as it is the language which connects the people of Pakistan with one another. Urdu has also played an important role in creation of Pakistan.

These views were expressed by the speakers at dialogue titled ‘Importance of National Language and Urdu in Foreign Countries’, organised by Inter University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences Pakistan (IUCPSS) and Institute of Peace & Diplomatic Studies Islamabad (IPDS) in collaboration with National Book Foundation and American Institute of Pakistan Studies Islamabad here on Tuesday.

Renowned scholar Prof. Fateh Muhammad Malik presided over the session. Andrew Amstutz, Research Scholar and PhD candidate in the Department of History at University of Cornell, New York, United Stated of America (USA), delivered a keynote address on the topic.

Researcher Andrew Amstutz said that Urdu is very unique language. He shared his research work on Urdu and its historical background in the sub-continent.

In his project ‘Finding a Home for Urdu: The Urdu Language Movement in Twentieth Century South Asia,’ Amstutz is exploring the trans-regional contours of the Urdu language movement led by the Anjuman-i-Taraqqi-yi Urdu (Association for the Advancement of Urdu). “Urdu as a language possesses a very unique position in the history as it is still national language in Pakistan and had been official language of Hyderabad Deccan and even in British period. During British period, it had been even used for official correspondence,” he said. Sharing extracts from some prominent old books, he highlighted the importance of Urdu as language in South Asian history. He was of the view that Mughal and British rulers even used Urdu for creating roots among the people of united India.

Prof. Fateh Muhammad Malik lauded the research work of Andrew Amstutz, saying that Urdu is our national language. Urdu has been the language of common people in sub-continent which was also influenced by other languages especially Persian, Turkish and Arabic along with regional languages spoken in various parts of sub-continent. “It is still very popular language at international level as well as it is widely understood in Middle East, South Asia, Central Asian states and Afghanistan. Urdu also played an important role in promotion and propagation of concept of separate nation for the Muslims of the sub-continent,” he said.

Prof. Fateh Muhammad Malik said that Urdu is powerful and public language, adding that it can be understood anywhere in the sub-continent. He said that Urdu language kept us united and played an important role in bringing the people from various regions closer to one another. He also appreciated the research scholar for conducting research on Urdu language.

Later, in Question-Answer session the participants raised various questions about the research work of the Andrew Amstutz.

The US researcher presented his research findings in Urdu which was highly appreciated by the participants.

Prof. Qaisra Alvi, National Coordinator Inter University Consortium Murtaza Noor and large number of people from different walks of life also attended the event.