Press Statement
Some Urdu speaking
friends like Shri S.H. Razi, Taqi Rahim, Shri Habibur Rahman, Dr Razi Ahmed and
others met me the other day and impressed upon me the need to provide all
necessary facilities for the growth of Urdu. Prof. Mohammed Hassan of
Jawaharlal Nehru University had also met and talked to me some time back in
this connection.
They told me that the Gujral Committee on
Urdu had made certain useful recommendations which might largely satisfy the
needs of the Urdu speaking population. The report of this committee had been
kept in abeyance for several years by the out-going Government. But now it has
been published, and i hope, the present Government would take urgent steps to
examine and implement these recommendations as early as possible.
It is only just and
proper that Urdu should be treated on par with other Indian languages, and a
congenial climate created for its growth. I understand, the Constitution of
India provides for the education of children through their mother tongue at the
primary stage. The Government must, therefore, see that in areas where there is
Urdu speaking population, Urdu teachers are appointed in all primary schools
and even in other recognised schools and colleges, irrespective of the number
of student reading therein. Urdu should also be given a place in the affairs of
the administration as far as possible.
I am happy to note that many people
whose mother tongue is not Urdu are learning it. Many of them have acquired a
high degree proficiency in this language. On the other side, a large number of
Urdu speaking people are also learning Hindi and some of them have acquired a
competence that is second to none. This is a very healthy trend which deserves
to be encouraged and strengthened. Special incentive should be given to such
Urdu-Hindi enthusiasts. Only mutual efforts in this direction can create the
kind of cultural synthesis that we need for building a firm basis of national
integration.
It is unfortunate
that inspite of thirty two years of Swaraj, Hindu- Muslim unity for which the
Father of the Nation had laid down his life, is yet to be fully realised. I
think that this cause would be served best if the language barrier between the
two communities is demolished by bringing Hindi and Urdu closer to each other.
Gandhiji had made positive efforts in this direction, but after his death no
serious attempt was made to do what he had left undone. Both the Government and
the people have now a duty to perform and I have no doubt that they will spare
no pains to fulfil this important national task.
Patna,
March 5, 1979 (Jayaprakash
Narayan)
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