New Delhi: Dr. Syed Ahmed Khan, National President of the Urdu Development Organisation (UDO), has written a letter to the Prime Minister of India, emphasising the urgent need to protect and promote the country’s linguistic heritage. He highlighted that India, known globally for its linguistic diversity, recognises 22 Scheduled Languages under its Constitution, each representing a rich tapestry of culture, history, and identity. In addition, numerous regional languages and dialects contribute to the nation’s diversity.
Expressing deep concern over the gradual extinction of many languages in contemporary times, Dr. Khan pointed out that the decline is primarily due to reduced usage and lack of adequate efforts for their promotion. “If this trend continues, it will not only lead to the disappearance of languages but also severely impact India’s unique cultural diversity,” he warned.
In his letter, Dr. Khan urged the Prime Minister to enhance the effectiveness of government schemes aimed at promoting Scheduled Languages. He proposed the implementation of a national programme to equally safeguard and promote all Indian languages. Key suggestions included:
Special Initiatives: Utilising educational institutions and digital platforms to preserve regional and minority languages.
Research Encouragement: Establishing a central data centre to archive the literature, grammar, and folk traditions of various languages.
Public Awareness Campaigns: Introducing initiatives to familiarise youth with Indian languages.
Multilingual Government Schemes: Ensuring that names and details of central government schemes are available not just in Hindi but also in regional languages.
Dr. Khan emphasised that languages are more than tools of communication – they are vessels of thought, history, and culture. “Failing to protect our languages will alienate future generations from their roots, weakening national unity and patriotism,” he stated.
Calling for immediate and effective measures to preserve India’s linguistic diversity, Dr. Khan concluded that such steps would not only safeguard the nation’s cultural and historical heritage but also strengthen its national integrity.
