Tamil Nadu   

First-ever All-India Urdu Mushaira opens

Special Correspondent

"Urdu symbolises pluralistic character of India"

CHENNAI: Urdu language symbolises the diverse, pluralistic and composite character of India, said N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu , underlining the need to help its further growth.

Inaugurating the first-ever All India Urdu Mushaira (rendition of Urdu poems) here on Saturday,

Mr. Ram said those who advocated uniformity of culture and favoured hegemony did not know anything about India.

Describing Urdu as "Kohinoor of languages," he said the country had about 320 Urdu newspapers having millions of readers.

Welcoming the formation of the Tamil Nadu Government Urdu Academy he said it would go a long way in strengthening the presence and importance of the language. Mr. Ram appealed to the Government and the public to lend their support to the institution in a sustained way.

The Prince of Arcot and Vice-Chairman of the Academy, H.H. Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, thanked the State Government for establishing the Urdu Academy and wanted the Government to provide grants liberally for its development.

Calling upon people to identify and isolate those having a communal agenda, the Nawab asked political leaders to follow the ancient tradition of secularism, peace and harmony in India.

The Nawab also appealed to the State and Central Governments to uplift the social status of Urdu poets by extending pension and grants.

He said Urdu was the language of all, and not just that of the Muslims.

Syed Muneer Ahmed, president of the National Chamber of Commerce, which co-sponsored the event along with the Academy, said the beauty of Mushaira lay in its art of expression of innermost feelings of love, affection and humour and its ability to mesmerise the audience.

Among those who attended the function were the former Home Secretary, Syed Munir Hoda; and the Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, S.S.P. Darwesh.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Message for youth from Venezuela
A festival of flowers and feast
When flowers beckon
Devout following
Bundle of burden
My sweet home!
Peaceful culmination
Courtesy call
Village to get e-connectivity with Rashtrapathi Bhavan
First-ever All-India Urdu Mushaira opens
Study working of State Electricity Boards, demands workers' union
Briefly

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu