Imposition

of Urdu in
Pakistan
zulfiqar mirani <zmirani@................> wrote:

This refers to 50minutes program telecasted on 3rd April 2005 on Geo TV.

On a question about writing Urdu in Roman script, Dr. Anwar Sajad termed it
a conspiracy against Urdu. He further went on saying that “To dominate
upon a nation, first attack is made on its culture and language, they (people)
are confused about their culture and language and made to feel inferior”…….
and thoughts like these.
Now consider a situation that upto 13th August 1947 Sindhi was the first
language of the then state of Sindh. There was English used there but at
very high level. The officers posted in Sindh were compulsorily had to learn
Sindhi. The English, even, were no exception. AFTER SO CALLED
INDEPENDENCE (AZADI) Sindhi was denied any kind of official status; it was
replaced by Urdu, a language alien to the land presently called Pakistan. It
was simply imported from India, why ?? not justified at any (elected)
legislative forum. The native people were not taken into confidence. Native
people (representative) were never allowed to take part in any decision of
national level. Strange justifications are given that Urdu was/is required as a
language of coordination between the native people of the country. [it may
be reminded that Sindhi, Punjabi, seraiki, Pushto, Baluchi, Brahvi have been
living on this land for the thousands of years. They had been trading with
each other, traveling to each

others land, several times they were part of the same empires, there were
free movements of people, intermarriages were common, many tribes
(races) still living in different parts of the land of the present provinces
without any problems, there had never been fought wars among the people
of these states now comprising Pakistan, which is very unusual, normally
bordering countries and tribes conflict at occasions…..etc…..net result is that
native people of the land of Pakistan had all normal relations which should
be among them.] IT WAS NOT URDU AT THAT TIME, THEN HOW THEY WERE
RUNNING ALL THEIR BUSINESS THROUGH THE CENTURIES.

The apprehensions shown by Dr. Anwar are the same as of Sindhi, Baluchi
and Pushto speaking people. The awareness among Punjabi is also
developing. By snatching the language from and imposing an alien language
upon the native people of Pakistan, who wants what ??????????? (in the light
of views of Dr. Anwar). Our national media projects a culture that is alien to
the land of Pakistan. Billions of rupees of this poor nation are spent to
promote Urdu and the culture (of UP and CP states) of India. [Except few
religious programs, what is different in Indian and Pakistani national media].
Popularity of so called local (actually native) channels like KTN, Sindh TV and
all channels and programs, movies, theatres etc in native languages is much
higher than the same type of media in Urdu. The term local for the native
people, their culture and language is humiliating; can't it be regarded as
making them feel that they are inferior and subjects but not masters.

Going through profiles of the countries of the world, one feels very strange
whiling knowing the fact that the First Language of Pakistan (Urdu) is the
language of only 5-7% of the population unprecedented in the whole world.
We can hide the fact from our children, but can not force all the countries
and organizations to delete it in their records (CIA World Factbook,
Encyclopedias, text books --- all narrate the same fact).

The Urdu poetry is very sweet. There might be lot of other qualities in Urdu.
There is no competition of Urdu and any of the native language of Pakistan
including Sindhi. It is not a matter of competition actually. It is very simple
as that Urdu speaking people will not give up their language in favour of a
language more developed than Urdu, for instance English or French.

Now few words about Urdu language and literature. In Pakistan it is only an
Urban language. Millions of people (93% of population of the country) use
their own (native) language. Urdu will of course be short of the terms
(vocabulary) used in rural areas daily life, agriculture, and business etc. If a
person wants to write in Urdu, for instance, and his subject relates to the life
of remote part of the country, he/she will be short of the vocabulary. He/she
will have to import the vocabulary from neighbouring country India…. the
first problem........there will be many more problems.

The piece of work will not be popular among the natives because they are
not familiar with these new terms, phrases, etc. It is impractical to give up
one's own language (being used from their forefathers for centuries) and
culture (evolved through the interaction of people and process of thousands
of years) all of sudden at the wish of a person, a party, a group or a leader
or by imposition through legislation or imperial force.
The future of Urdu (as the first or single national language in Pakistan) is
dark. Do you think that seven crores Punjabi, four crores Sindhis and crores
of population of Baluchi and Pushto will give up their language in favour of
Urdu. But why ???? because a group of persons or leaders have declared it
their national language. The literature of Urdu represents only people of
some parts of one city (Karachi). It has no national appeal, it does not
addresses the problems of native people (97% of Pop), it does not
accomodates aspirations and ambitions of natives.......etc and consequently
it is not popular among native paeoples. The same is the case with every
type of media. Sindhi people, if provided the same news stuff on KTN, they
will never switch to Geo or ARYONE. Urdu drama channels are already losing
popularity and will further loose with opening of more channels in native
languages.

There is one more undeniable fact that, in the context of political role of
Urdu speaking population and their influence in Pakistan, their support to
anti-(native \) people policies of govt., their political ambitions of
dominance, their (natural and unbreakable) relations with Urdu speaking
people in India, their aspirations to control and use the Pakistan for the
benefit of Urdu speaking people of subcontinent (in the name of Islam or in
any other manner), their parting way (at their own will and for their own
causes and objectives) from the main stream politics of native people, their
alienation (at their will and cause) to this land, people, culture, their special
cychy (which does not allow them to mix up with native population), their
diaspora, and many factors like these, Urdu language and culture will find
more and more resistance by native population including Punjabi (Sindhi,
Baluchi and Pushto are already opposing dominance of Urdu as a language
and of Urdu population).

Yes Urdu language is becoming popular in India (as it is its birth place, it is
spoken in urban and rural areas over there, it has got huge population of
speakers...etc). But there also it will ultimately merge with Hindhi in the long
run.

April 5, 2005.