LUCKNOW, Dec 1: Former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has called for a coordinated national campaign to preserve and promote Urdu and Hindi, describing both languages as irreplaceable pillars of India’s cultural identity. Speaking as the chief guest at the Fifth International Urdu Conference at Era University, Azad emphasised that safeguarding these languages is essential to sustaining the country’s composite Ganga-Jamuni culture.
Addressing a gathering of writers, scholars, educationists and literary enthusiasts, Azad said that Urdu and Hindi are not merely mediums of communication but are deeply woven into the emotional, social and artistic fabric of India. “Urdu will survive only if Hindi remains strong. The survival of both languages is interconnected,” he remarked, urging governments, institutions and society at large to launch a structured campaign that promotes both languages in schools, universities, literature and cultural platforms.
He said that languages, far more than religion or politics, create genuine bonds between communities. “Urdu has not descended from any foreign land. It was born on Indian soil, nurtured by the cultural confluence of centuries,” he said, tracing the evolution of Urdu from its early “Hindavi” roots shaped by the legendary poet Amir Khusro, who blended Braj and Sanskrit to create a new linguistic harmony.
Azad spoke at length about the historical journey of Urdu, noting that its true golden era emerged during the time of Mirza Ghalib, when its poetry and prose reached remarkable artistic heights. He lamented that while Urdu still enjoys the status of a second language in several states, this recognition has remained largely symbolic and is often reduced to a political tool rather than a sincere effort to promote learning. “If proper Urdu teachers are appointed, millions of children will take up the language enthusiastically. The desire to learn is alive, but opportunities remain limited,” he observed.
He highlighted the major contribution of Bollywood in spreading Urdu’s charm, noting that until a couple of decades ago, most Hindi film songs were heavily influenced by Urdu poetry and were written by both Hindu and Muslim lyricists. “Urdu has always found its place in the world of entertainment and touched the hearts of people across communities,” he said.
Azad also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for consistently delivering speeches in Hindi on international forums, noting that leaders of major countries like Russia and China do the same to uphold the dignity of their national languages. When the Indian Prime Minister speaks in Hindi abroad, Azad said, it reinforces India’s cultural self-respect.
He recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s words, describing Hindi and Urdu as “two daughters of the same mother.” Urdu literature, he added, remains unparalleled, citing iconic poets and writers such as Ghalib, Ali Sardar Jafri, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Kaifi Azmi, Bekal Utsahi and Ismat Chughtai. He reminisced about the era when cities across Uttar Pradesh hosted grand mushairas where poets recited poetry through the night, a tradition that has unfortunately faded over time.
Dr Rita Bahuguna Joshi, former MP and chairperson of the conference, echoed Azad’s sentiments, asserting that Urdu today has become a language of democracy, accessible and appreciated across communities. She shared a personal anecdote from her tenure as Mayor of Allahabad, recalling how oath-taking documents were prepared in Sanskrit, Hindi and Urdu, yet very few councilors could recite the Urdu version, highlighting the need for greater linguistic exposure.
Celebrated Urdu writer Dr Joshi also invoked the legacy of great poets such as Ali Sardar Jafri, Braj Narayan Chakbast, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Wasim Barelvi. She recalled the memorable moment when storyteller Morari Bapu arrived by chartered plane to congratulate Wasim Barelvi on being nominated as an MLC, a gesture that underscored Urdu’s widespread admiration beyond linguistic or communal boundaries.
The conference concluded with a shared resolve: preserving Urdu and Hindi is not merely a linguistic responsibility but a cultural duty. Scholars emphasized that revitalizing these languages will strengthen India’s pluralistic ethos, empower younger generations and safeguard the nation’s literary treasures for centuries to come.