Hyderabad : Union Minister for Water Resources Saifuddin Soz on Thursday called for integrating Urdu language with jobs. The Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) should consider imparting vocational skills to students.

A capsule course in English language should also be introduced so that the students have the best of both worlds, he said while laying the foundation stone for Urdu museum in the MANUU campus at Gachibowli on Thursday.

Treasure house

The Rs. 2-crore museum will be a treasure house of rare manuscripts, books and sketches of eminent Urdu writers and poets. It will also showcase the growth of the language and the contributions made by a galaxy of writers down the ages.

Prof. Soz recalled how he entertained misgivings about the Urdu university as he felt it would not be possible to teach all subjects in Urdu. Though a lot of work in Urdu was done during the Nizam's regime, still he was not mentally prepared for Urdu university. However, he did not oppose it openly. "Now I am happy that my fears have proved wrong and the university is progressing on the right track," Prof. Soz said.

Importance of English

He said English was accepted as the lingua franca all over the world. It was the language of communication. Therefore, it was necessary that students also learnt this language along with their mother tongue.

There was great demand for plumbers, electricians, fitters in the west as repairing anything was very difficult there.

The MANUU should also think of equipping skills in these trades, the Union Minister said.

MANUU Vice-Chancellor A.M. Pathan said that the UGC had already approved the university's proposal to introduce vocational courses.

By next academic year at least three centres would be set up in the country.

S.A. Wajid, deputy registrar, MANUU, proposed a vote of thanks.

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