Muzaffarnagar: To mark the birth anniversary of the Poet of the East, Allama Iqbal, the Urdu Development Organisation held an impressive event celebrating World Urdu Day here Tuesday. The event was graced by notable literary and academic personalities who emphasised the promotion and preservation of the Urdu language.
The event’s chief guest was Professor Aslam Jamshedpuri, Head of the Urdu Department at Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. Honorary guests included Asim Chaudhry (PCS J) and Dr. Chandni Abbasi. All dignitaries were warmly welcomed with mementos. Additionally, the organisation honoured Syed Iltifat Baqa with the Allama Iqbal Award for Literary Contributions and Haji Ausaf Ahmad with the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Award for Urdu and Educational Services.
Around 150 students, who excelled in their high school, intermediate, and MA (Urdu) exams, were also encouraged with mementos and certificates. The event was presided over by Dr. Shamim Hasan, with Kaleem Tyagi compering the programme.
Professor Aslam Jamshedpuri expressed his appreciation for the people of Muzaffarnagar, especially those associated with the UDO, for their dedicated efforts to keep the flame of Urdu alive. He suggested that every district should have branches of the organisation to sustain the Urdu movement. Noting the upcoming elections, he urged Urdu supporters to demand that political leaders address issues related to Urdu, stating that their vote should go only to those who support the language.
Muhammad Asim Chaudhry highlighted education as the sole path to progress, encouraging persistence and setting goals as tools for success. He reassured Urdu students of a bright future, advising them to remain optimistic. He attributed the honour he received to his education and commitment to the Urdu language.
Dr. Chandni Abbasi reminded the audience that Urdu holds official status as the second language of Uttar Pradesh. While calling on the government to support Urdu, she emphasised that individuals must take responsibility for safeguarding their mother tongue. She encouraged families to keep the Urdu script alive at home and advised students to choose Urdu as a subject in their studies.
The district president of the organisation, Kaleem Tyagi, underscored the need to promote Urdu script on social media, expressing disappointment that many prominent poets and writers today avoid writing in Urdu. He reaffirmed that the organisation’s primary objective is to uplift the Urdu language. Paying tribute to Allama Iqbal, he suggested that Iqbal’s iconic poem, Sare Jahan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara, should be India’s national anthem, and he extended his congratulations to all students.
Other prominent speakers included Advocate Mehboob Alam, Advocate Amir Azam, Master Altaf Mashal, Dr. Farrukh Hasan, Haji Ausaf Ahmad, and Mufti Muhammad Adil. New members joining the UDO were also honoured with mementos. The event featured a recitation of Allama Iqbal’s anthem by Qari Shahid Arman, a Naat by Haji Abdul Haq Sahar, and a well-written essay on Allama Iqbal by Nawab Azmat Girls Inter College student, Umaima Shah.
Special contributions were made by Dr. Shamim Hasan, Asad Farooqui, Kaleem Tyagi, Tahseen Ali, Maulana Musa Qasmi, Shamim Qassar, Gulfam Ahmad, Dr. Farrukh Hasan, Nadeem Malik, Master Khalil Ahmad, Master Imtiaz Ali, Sajid Khan, Master Shehzad Ali, Master Raeesuddin Rana, Badaruzaman Khan, Dr. Saleem Sulmani, Qari Tauheed Aziz, Haji Salamat Rahi, and Haji Shakeel Ahmad in making the event a success.
Students from Farooq Modern Junior High School presented, Sare Jahan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara, delighting the audience. Many Urdu enthusiasts from Muzaffarnagar, including Zafrayab Khan, Master Altaf, Engineer Asad Pasha, Abdul Haq Sahar, Mufti Abdul Qadir, Asif Qureshi, Chand Mian, As Muhammad Kaif, Dr. Tanveer Gauhar, Master Israr, Shahvez Rao, and Afsar Ahmad, were also present.
