– Mohammed Atherulla Shariff
Mysore, June 27: Urdu toppers of tenth and twelfth grade were felicitated by the Mysore office of Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu here. Those who secured more than 90% were presented with mementos and certificates in appreciation of their passion for Urdu.
Inaugurating the programme, former state president and lawmaker from Narsimhraja constituency (Mysore) Tanvir Sait congratulated the students and lauded the Anjuman for its efforts to encourage the students and promote the Urdu language. He said the Anjuman should identify the issues pertaining to Urdu schools, teachers and students, especially dropouts. And should take up the matter with the authorities concerned to solve them. Our activities shouldn’t be restricted to conducting Mushairas, he said.
He stated that every child of the community should be helped to climb the ladder of learning. As a community, we should strive to come up in life and see that no child remains illiterate and hungry. Since the mother’s lap is the first school of a child, other than the mother nobody else can train the child in a better way, we should focus on educating the girl children especially, he explained.
Speaking on the occasion, the state president of the Anjuman and editor Daily Pasban, Obaidulla Shariff expressed his happiness that many students had scored 99% marks in Urdu subject. He said it is unjust to claim Urdu as Muslims’ language rather it is an Indian language. Indeed it is a language of love and brotherhood. The national song Sare Jahan Se Achcha Hindustan Hamara, sounds sweet only in Urdu not in any other language.
Obaidulla Shariff impressed upon the parents not to give up their daughters in marriage until they achieve the appropriate age and are educated sufficiently.
He regretted that the number of Urdu schools in the state has drastically reduced from 5000 to 4000 in the last decade and the position of Urdu is not protected in many Moulana Azad schools started in the state.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Masood Siraj, former head of the Department of Urdu, Mysore University, emphasized advancing the cause of the Urdu language. He recalled at the moment how Mysore city played an important role in the promotion of education, it has always been identified as the fountainhead of education and literature.
Syed Shafi Ahmed, president of Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu, presiding over the programme, threw light on the historical journey of the Anjuman. Influenced by the movement of Sir Syed, the Anjuman was established in 1903.
Prof. Manzoor Ahmed, poet Syed Ahmed Rahil and other dignitaries were also present.
