Stalwart, scholar, spokesperson for Urdu, Prof Gopichand
Narang is also a symbol of the pluralism and secularism that was once
the hallmark of Urdu tehzeeb. He talks toRakhshanda Jalil,
soon after receiving the Moortidevi Award, on the state of Urdu today,
newer ways of making it more accessible and the perils of politicising culture.
What
do you have to say to those who claim Urdu is the language of the Muslims?
They
are misguided. This is part of the communal divide created by the politics of
partition. They are not friends of Urdu. The most unfortunate thing is that sometimes
our administrative machinery succumbs to such narrow views and implements wrong
policies. In fact, the larger issue is the communalisation and politicisation
of culture. This is also connected to the harmful and unhealthy vote bank
politics. The fact is that Urdu is a product of the composite culture of India
and provides a bridge between not only communities but countries also. The
labelling of Urdu by religion goes against the very grain of the secular genius
of Urdu. It is detrimental to its growth. Why only Urdu and Hindi? Why is no
other language marked by such a divide? English is the largest spoken language
of the world, but has it ever been restricted by Christianity or any other
religion?
Is
Urdu in India dead, or dying?
Urdu
is neither dead nor dying. It is surviving though with difficulties. It is a
victim of the aftermath of the two-nation theory and facing problems at the
school level especially in north Indian states. It is well known that Urdu is
the most cultivated form of Khadi Boli Hindi, and being the
core of Hindustani, it is at the heart of the lingua-franca not
only of India but all of South Asia. It has been sustaining Bollywood movies,
satellite TV serials and entertainment industry. Can anyone think of all this
activity minus Urdu?
Can investments in cultural capital sustain a language? Or must
languages be linked to employment to survive?
The
two are interlinked. Language is a construct of culture and culture a construct
of language. A speaking community must have equal opportunity for growth and
progress so that it can partake in the development of the country. Our
democratic structure has all the provisions; similarly, subaltern Urdu needs to
be guaranteed all those rights and privileges which are enjoyed by other
regional languages in India.
Music, be it in the film industry or ghazal gayeki, has done much
to sustain Urdu. But most mehfils and mushaira see a largely ‘grey’ audience?
How does one draw younger audiences towards Urdu?
It’s
true. Language and culture are dynamic. They are not static. All art forms are
perpetually changing. The ghazal from Ghalib to Faiz to Shaharyar, Gulzar and
Javed Akhtar has also changed. So is the ghazal gayeki and
singing styles and popular music. Urdu has the resilience and capacity to cope
up with new challenges. The moot question is the provision of equal protection
under Right to Education Act and honest implementation of three-language
formula in our general education system at the school level.
Comparisons between the state of Urdu in India and Pakistan are
made all the time. Don’t you think this is an unfair comparison? For most
Pakistanis, Urdu is an effective second language whereas we still have a
substantial number of ‘native’ Urdu speakers?
Unnecessary
and wrong comparisons are generated by politically-motivated vested interests.
You are right. Even today 7 to 10 crore Indians claim Urdu as their first
language, though there is no state in India where Urdu speakers are in
majority, although Urdu is the second largest spoken language after Hindi and a
source of strength to Hindi. In north-western areas covered by Pakistan, Urdu
has been a link and cultural language from the pre-partition times. Good that
it now has State patronage, but English has the upper hand as it is in India.
The fact is that Urdu in Pakistan is yet not the State's official language. I
am of the view that with increasing globalisation the rise of multilingualism
is a must. The age of mono-lingualism is a thing of the past.
How can the teaching of Urdu in the Urdu script, for a lay person,
be made simpler? At present it is daunting and only the very diligent manage to
learn the script.
Like
Bengali, Urdu script is cursive, artistic and beautiful. It is not difficult.
Rather it is close to short hand as it is more consonantal than vocalic. The
short vowels are generally omitted and not written. It might appear difficult
as opportunities for learning it at the school level have been denied. Not to
mention my own series of books Let's Learn Urdu in both
English and Hindi, there are scientific materials by which one can learn Urdu
script in a matter of weeks. Much depends on the motivation and time spent
practicing it.
On a personal note, can you single out one text/verse that speaks
to you again and again, no matter how many times you read it?
There
is none other than Ghalib. He always speaks to you and is so refreshing. He is
a poet of all times and ages. His world is too vast and too contradictory to
fit into any one category of things. His poetry is unique not only for the
intensity of emotions and depth of thoughts it expresses, but also for the
exquisite charm and the beauty of the world which he reveals. Ghalib is also
valuable for a completely fresh approach to the world. He is endowed with a
passionate appreciation of life, yet he deeply questions the very fundamentals
of faith and dogma never compromising on the unity of mankind and freedom of
human spirit. He has a range and touch of magic no other Urdu poet has.
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