New Delhi: Dr. Syed Ahmad Khan, National President of Urdu Development Organisation (UDO), has written to the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, urging him to protect the Indian language Urdu from extinction and to promote education rooted in moral values. Highlighting the significance of Urdu, Dr. Khan reminded the state government that Urdu is not only India’s mother tongue but also widely popular across the country. He emphasised that Urdu continues to be read, written, and spoken in every corner of India and plays a vital role in promoting Hindi.
In his letter, Dr. Khan expressed concern over the deteriorating status of Urdu in Rajasthan under the current administration. He pointed out that the closure of the Rajasthan Urdu Academy was a significant blow, followed by a recent order targeting Urdu medium schools. The letter further stated that the Department of Education in Rajasthan has issued directives merging Urdu medium schools with Hindi medium schools, which threatens the survival of Urdu as a medium of education.
Dr. Khan urged the Chief Minister to revoke the order issued on January 17, by the Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan. He argued that this decision could lead to the eradication of Urdu medium schools, which have existed in cities like Ajmer and across Rajasthan since before India’s Independence.
Calling for the promotion of Urdu without prejudice, Dr. Khan appealed to the government to ensure that the language and its educational institutions are preserved. He emphasised that protecting Urdu is crucial for maintaining India’s linguistic diversity and cultural heritage.
