Urdu Is Not Merely a Language but a Cultural and Scholarly Tradition: Dr. Syed Ahmad Khan
New Delhi: As part of literary activities organised in collaboration with the National Council for the Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) at the World Book Fair, an important panel discussion was held in which Dr. Syed Ahmad Khan, the driving force behind the Urdu Development Organisation (UDO), delivered a comprehensive address on the intellectual, educational, and cultural role of the Urdu language.
Besides Dr. Khan, Prof. Abdul Wadood, Prof. Shabbir Ahmad and Dr. Mohammad Faisal also participated in the discussion.
Dr. Syed Ahmad Khan said that Urdu is not merely a language but an intellectual tradition and a cultural identity, and also a foundational pillar of the intellectual existence of Unani medicine. He warned that if Urdu weakens, the roots of Unani medicine could also be undermined. Referring to the National Education Policy 2020, he noted that it talks about giving Urdu and other mother tongues their rightful place; however, policy alone is not sufficient, practical measures are essential.
He emphasised that research is possible in Urdu, scientific writing in Urdu can be made globally acceptable, digital platforms in Urdu can be developed, and new employment opportunities can be created for students educated through the Urdu medium. However, he stressed that this requires teacher training, curriculum reform, preparation of quality textbooks, publication of research journals, and strong institutional cooperation.
In conclusion, he said that the real question is not whether we need Urdu or English, but whether we are using knowledge to serve humanity or merely to obtain degrees. If Urdu, Unani medicine, and modern science are made complementary to one another, an educational model can be developed that could serve as an example for the world.
Dr. Khan expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all panel members, organisers, and attendees.
