Hyderabad: Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) today formally started the work to develop textbooks for higher education in the Urdu language. Bhartiya Bhasha Samiti (BBS), an initiative of University Grants Commission (UGC), has assigned the task to MANUU.
The University organised a two-day workshop for authors on academic writing to develop textbooks. Addressing the inaugural session today, Prof. B.J. Rao, V.C. University of Hyderabad, lauded the important contribution being made by MANUU in promoting Urdu as a language of knowledge.
Describing Urdu as a sweet language, he pointed out at the popularity and success of human resource development programmes and translation of engineering textbooks from AICTE undertaken by MANUU.
Prof. Syed Ainul Hasan, VC, MANUU and Nodal Officer for BBS (Urdu), in his presidential address advised the authors to adopt direct approach to appeal to the students.
Prof. Suleman Siddiqui, former V.C., Osmania University, who also served as first Registrar of MANUU, in his address, spoke about the experiments and deliberations undertaken to prepare academic material in Urdu during the formative stages of the University. He suggested that a pool of authors knowing Urdu, English and the concerned subjects be prepared.
Prof. Imtiyaz Hasnain (Dept. of Linguistics, AMU) in his address pointed out that UGC has undertaken this initiative because of New Education Policy 2020. NEP lays emphasis on providing education in mother tongue. NEP has formally recognized the multilingualism of Indian society, he remarked.
Prof. M.K.M. Zafar, Director, Directorate of Translation, Translation Studies, Lexicography and Publications (DTTLP) who is also the coordinator of BBS Urdu, welcomed the guests and spoke about the workshop. He described the initiative to prepare textbooks in Indian languages as a blessing for Urdu medium students.
A special issue of University magazine Al-Kalam was also released on the occasion. Dr. Mohd. Mustafa Ali Sarwari, PRO and Associate Professor MCJ, who is also editor of the magazine, spoke about the special issue.
A short video film about the activities and achievements of DTTLP was also screened during the inaugural. Later, Prof. B.J. Rao inaugurated the office of BBS Urdu at DTTLP situated at the Center for Deccan Studies. Around 60 authors from various parts of India attended the workshop.
