New Delhi: Veteran journalist Jalaluddin Aslam, presiding over a key review meeting of the Urdu Development Organisation (UDO), emphasised the need to make Urdu a compulsory subject in all Islamic seminaries.
During the meeting, Dr. Syed Ahmed Khan, the National President of UDO, reviewed 27 years of contributions by World Urdu Day and its annual events. He highlighted that these efforts have resulted in prominent Urdu institutions actively participating in the observance of World Urdu Day on November 9. He commended the efforts of institutions such as Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy, Telangana Urdu Academy, and Tamil Nadu Urdu Academy.
He further appreciated the support extended by the Delhi Urdu Academy and Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu (Hind) for celebrating World Urdu Day.
Noted journalist Suhail Anjum, while addressing the gathering, remarked that the annual celebrations of World Urdu Day over the past 27 years, both in India and abroad, are commendable. However, he stressed the need for more ground-level work to promote and expand the reach of the Urdu language.
Mohammad Arif Iqbal, editor of Urdu Book Review, endorsed the presidential remarks made by Jalaluddin Aslam. He pointed out that while significant efforts are being made to ensure the teaching of Urdu language and literature in seminaries across South India, the lack of attention to this in North Indian seminaries is concerning.
Urdu journalist Javed Rahmani praised the contributions of Dr. Syed Ahmed Khan, calling his efforts toward the promotion of Urdu exemplary and worthy of emulation.
The meeting also saw participation from observers, including Syed Niaz Ahmed Raja, Naeem Alam Azmi, and Zeeshan Ahmed.
