Concern among Urdu circles over Urdu not being included in a notice
Report. S. Muneer
Aligarh. The emergence of yet another incident of alleged disregard for the Urdu language at Aligarh Muslim University is not merely a matter of Urdu disappearing from a notice; rather, it has once again raised several serious questions linked to the university’s identity, history and cultural heritage. The notice issued under the signature of Joint Registrar M. Sarwar Athar did not provide a place to the Urdu language, causing concern and uneasiness among Urdu circles. Urdu lovers have also drawn the attention of the university’s first woman Vice Chancellor, Naima Khatoon, to the matter through various channels. The question is not why Urdu was not written in one notice; the question is how Urdu could ultimately be made to disappear from an official notice of an institution whose academic and cultural identity developed through a deep association with Urdu and the shared scholarly tradition of the Indian subcontinent. Has Urdu now become merely a language, or is it also a part of the institution’s history and identity that can be ignored due to administrative negligence? The absence of Urdu in this historic seat of learning associated with the thought of Sir Syed has therefore caused concern among Urdu lovers and raised questions over the administration’s policy, priorities and accountability.
It is worth mentioning that in the past, a notice had been issued by former Registrar Abdul Hamid to ensure the use of the Urdu language at the university. It had ordered the use of all three languages — Urdu, Hindi and English — on all university letterheads. Despite this, if an important university notice is issued in the present time without Urdu, it is natural to ask who will ensure compliance with the orders issued by the administration itself. Do the university officers have no regard for the previous orders of their own institution? If Urdu can be ignored despite a formal order, then what remains the status of that order?
Aligarh Muslim University administration has faced allegations in the past as well of continuously ignoring Urdu. The administration has repeatedly rejected these allegations and has also referred to various steps taken for the promotion and use of Urdu. Despite this, from time to time, such matters have continued to emerge which are presented as evidence of the alleged disregard of Urdu. The present notice is also being described as another link in the same series. The question is that if the administration is genuinely serious about giving Urdu an equal status, then why are such lapses repeatedly coming to light?
The biggest question is whether some university officials, considering the present administration to be weak, are taking decisions or carrying out actions according to their own wishes. Have they come to believe that no action will be taken against them despite violating the university’s rules and orders? If this is not the case, then why is this negligence being repeated again and again? Is there no system for checking the language and format of a notice before it is issued? If such a system exists, who supervises it and who is accountable for it?
Another important question is why the university’s reputation should ultimately have to bear the consequences of such mistakes, whether committed knowingly or unknowingly. If Urdu continues to be ignored repeatedly by treating it as a minor administrative lapse, will this not create a wrong impression about Aligarh Muslim University in the country and abroad? Should it not be expected from a historic and central university that it leaves no room even for the slightest negligence when it comes to its languages and cultural heritage?
Urdu is not merely a language but an important part of the academic, literary and cultural history of the Indian subcontinent. During the freedom struggle, Urdu journalism, poetry, writings and public awareness played an important role. The contribution of Urdu newspapers and writers in spreading the message of the freedom movement and creating political and social awareness among the people cannot be forgotten. In such circumstances, the presence of Urdu in a historic educational institution is not merely a formal requirement but is also linked to its historical responsibility and cultural identity.
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan himself held the Urdu language very dear. He made Urdu an important medium of academic and intellectual expression and played a prominent role in giving the language a new direction through his writings and journalistic activities. The role of Urdu in the intellectual foundations of the Aligarh Movement is known to all. In such an institution, which is regarded as a symbol of Sir Syed’s thought and the Aligarh Movement, if Urdu disappears from any official notice, questions are bound to be raised.
The focus of attention now is on the university’s first woman Vice Chancellor, Naima Khatoon. The question is whether she will take cognizance of the matter and find out on what basis Urdu was excluded from the notice. Will an explanation be sought from the responsible officer? Will compliance be ensured in the future so that any such notice is issued in accordance with the previous order regarding the use of all three languages — Urdu, Hindi and English? And above all, will the administration make it clear what its practical policy is regarding the position of Urdu at the university?
This matter should not remain limited to a single notice. The real question is whether the Muslim University is genuinely serious about protecting its historic language and cultural heritage. If so, then why is a permanent solution not being found to such complaints and examples that repeatedly come to light? And if Urdu is not being ignored, then why do objections and questions related to Urdu arise again and again? Instead of ending the matter merely by saying that Urdu is not being ignored, the university administration will now have to prove in practice that its own orders concerning the use of Urdu, Hindi and English are being fully implemented. Because on the land of Sir Syed, respect for Urdu demands not merely words but action as well.
Meanwhile, expressing strong concern and regret over Urdu being ignored in the university’s official notice, the Urdu Development Organisation, Muzaffarnagar, has demanded that the university administration give Urdu its rightful place and immediately ensure implementation of the previous orders. District President of the Urdu Development Organisation, Kaleem Tyagi, said that the failure to include the Urdu language in the recent notice issued under the signature of the university’s Joint Registrar M. Sarwar Athar is extremely regrettable. On the one hand, the university issues orders regarding the promotion and use of the Urdu language, while on the other hand, Urdu is being ignored in some of the university’s own official correspondence. Kaleem Tyagi demanded from the university’s first woman Vice Chancellor, Naima Khatoon (AMU), that she immediately take cognizance of the matter, seek an explanation from those responsible, and ensure the use of Urdu in all official notices, letterheads and correspondence of the university.