New Delhi: Dr. Syed Ahmad Khan, National President of the Urdu Development Organisation, has welcomed the proposal put forward at the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, by Chandra Bhan Khayal, Convener for Urdu language and a well-known journalist and writer, urging the Government of India to observe an official ‘Urdu Day’, similar to Hindi Divas.
Dr. Khan noted that on September 4, 2014, the Urdu Development Organisation (UDO) had secured a landmark Supreme Court verdict against the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad, upholding Urdu’s status as the second official language in seven states of the country. He described the ruling as a historic judgment that has since become part of the country’s constitutional framework, saying that in light of the Supreme Court’s decision, Urdu now enjoys full constitutional recognition as an Indian language.
Dr. Khan further said that the organisation’s 1997 decision to observe November 9 as World Urdu Day had produced highly positive results, not only in India but among Urdu enthusiasts across the world. In this context, he said, the appeal by some talented individuals, thinkers of the nation and community, and devotees of the Urdu language for the government to mark an official ‘Urdu Day’ akin to Hindi Divas was both justified and commendable. He appealed to the Government of India to consider formally observing ‘Urdu Day’ in light of this proposal.
