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LN MALICK
Doha
FOR Urdu activist Kamna Prasad, Urdu is not merely a language but a medium that represents a rich cultural heritage. “Urdu has no boundaries and it belongs to no religion,” she said.
Kamna, the founder of Jashn-e-Bahar Trust and a noted personality working for the promotion of Urdu in India, recently visited Qatar to attend the platinum jubilee celebrations of Bazme Urdu Qatar, which was established in 1959. She also presided over an international literary symposium (mushaira) held on the occasion.
Praising the contribution of Bazme Urdu Qatar to the promotion of Urdu language and literature in Qatar, she said the chief patron Muhammad Sabih Bukhari is a torchbearer of the ‘Ganga-Jamuni’ tehzeeb (culture) and is working for propagation of love and peace through language and literature.
“Urdu is a pure Hindustani language, which is found in Tulsi’s Chaupai and Khusro’s Rubai. It has evolved from brotherhood, harmony and love. The charismatic Urdu of Mir and Ghalib is a gift to the literary world from India. Thanks to the Diaspora as well as due to the attraction of the language, Urdu is doing so well globally,” Kamna told Qatar Tribune.
She noted that Urdu is as popular among gentry as among common people. Quoting Urdu poet Mir Taqi Mir, she said, “Sheir mere hain go khawaas pas, par mujhe guftgu awaam se hai” (Although the gentry likes my poetry, but I talk to the common man).
“Be it homes, markets, newspapers or courts, Urdu is the language of masses. Urdu is an amalgamation of different languages and cultures. Words derived from Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Hindi, English, Italian, Latin and Portuguese, have tastefully been adopted in Urdu,” explained Kamna, who was visiting Qatar for the first time. She hails from Jagdishpur in Bihar.
Speaking about her impressions of Qatar, she said, “I was amazed to see the number of people who attended the mushaira and remained glued to their seats until the end. Qatar heads the list of the countries where Urdu is popular. Qatar’s values are identical to the spirit of Urdu as both are beautiful combinations of tradition and modernity.”
She said the Qatari leadership deserves all praise for evolving their policies of development based on tradition and modernity.
When asked about the future of Urdu, she said, “The future bright. A large number of people are attracted to this language although their mother tongue is not Urdu. Urdu is a language of ‘adab and adaab’. Languages keep evolving. ‘Gandhigiri’ or ‘Youngistaan’ are welcome experiences. Only those languages live that keep evolving with time. Change is the only constant thing in this world. Today when we do not criticise people for not speaking Shakespearian English, people not speaking Ghalib’s Urdu should also not face the flak.”
She said the word ‘Urdu’ has been derived from Turkish language and it means hordes or army.
She also emphasised the role of mushairas in popularising Urdu. “Mushairas have never lost their sheen and have always played a vital role in promoting Urdu. Mushairas were first held in Deccan and the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar took mushairas to new heights.”
On linking language with religion, she remarked, “Itis unjustified to connect a language to any particular religion. Languages are of region and not of religion.”
Doha
FOR Urdu activist Kamna Prasad, Urdu is not merely a language but a medium that represents a rich cultural heritage. “Urdu has no boundaries and it belongs to no religion,” she said.
Kamna, the founder of Jashn-e-Bahar Trust and a noted personality working for the promotion of Urdu in India, recently visited Qatar to attend the platinum jubilee celebrations of Bazme Urdu Qatar, which was established in 1959. She also presided over an international literary symposium (mushaira) held on the occasion.
Praising the contribution of Bazme Urdu Qatar to the promotion of Urdu language and literature in Qatar, she said the chief patron Muhammad Sabih Bukhari is a torchbearer of the ‘Ganga-Jamuni’ tehzeeb (culture) and is working for propagation of love and peace through language and literature.
“Urdu is a pure Hindustani language, which is found in Tulsi’s Chaupai and Khusro’s Rubai. It has evolved from brotherhood, harmony and love. The charismatic Urdu of Mir and Ghalib is a gift to the literary world from India. Thanks to the Diaspora as well as due to the attraction of the language, Urdu is doing so well globally,” Kamna told Qatar Tribune.
She noted that Urdu is as popular among gentry as among common people. Quoting Urdu poet Mir Taqi Mir, she said, “Sheir mere hain go khawaas pas, par mujhe guftgu awaam se hai” (Although the gentry likes my poetry, but I talk to the common man).
“Be it homes, markets, newspapers or courts, Urdu is the language of masses. Urdu is an amalgamation of different languages and cultures. Words derived from Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Hindi, English, Italian, Latin and Portuguese, have tastefully been adopted in Urdu,” explained Kamna, who was visiting Qatar for the first time. She hails from Jagdishpur in Bihar.
Speaking about her impressions of Qatar, she said, “I was amazed to see the number of people who attended the mushaira and remained glued to their seats until the end. Qatar heads the list of the countries where Urdu is popular. Qatar’s values are identical to the spirit of Urdu as both are beautiful combinations of tradition and modernity.”
She said the Qatari leadership deserves all praise for evolving their policies of development based on tradition and modernity.
When asked about the future of Urdu, she said, “The future bright. A large number of people are attracted to this language although their mother tongue is not Urdu. Urdu is a language of ‘adab and adaab’. Languages keep evolving. ‘Gandhigiri’ or ‘Youngistaan’ are welcome experiences. Only those languages live that keep evolving with time. Change is the only constant thing in this world. Today when we do not criticise people for not speaking Shakespearian English, people not speaking Ghalib’s Urdu should also not face the flak.”
She said the word ‘Urdu’ has been derived from Turkish language and it means hordes or army.
She also emphasised the role of mushairas in popularising Urdu. “Mushairas have never lost their sheen and have always played a vital role in promoting Urdu. Mushairas were first held in Deccan and the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar took mushairas to new heights.”
On linking language with religion, she remarked, “Itis unjustified to connect a language to any particular religion. Languages are of region and not of religion.”
