URDU
Urdu in Tamil Nadu
ALI ASGHAR
TAMILNADU KE TALIMI AUR ADABI IDARON KI URDU QIDMAAT — The Urdu Contributions of Educational and Literary Organisations of Tamil Nadu: Mohammed Obaidur Rahman; Sarmadi Publications, 8/2, Sundaram Lane, Purasawalkam, Chennai-600007. Rs. 200.
THE ORIGIN and development of the Urdu language in Tamil Nadu dates back to about 350 years. Islamic scholars, poets and other creative writers, who arrived from North India during the Mughal administration to the then Karnatak province tried their hand at numerous literary genres and introduced their pupils to the nuances of the Urdu language. Thus Urdu flourished in Tamil Nadu, especially during the rule of the Wallajahi and the Nawabs of Arcot. Likewise, the establishment of Fort Saint George College helped popularise this language among the educated Muslims.
It is often claimed with some degree of legitimacy that the literary historians of the North often ignored the writers of Tamil Nadu; but one must also acknowledge that their disregard of the literary scene in Tamil Nadu resulted from want of relevant feedback by the writers of this region.
Significantly, from 1900 to 1970, the poets and writers of Urdu in Tamil Nadu produced literary works comparable to those of other Urdu writers in India. Since then several books were published, some of them featuring the evolution of the Urdu language in the state. It is indeed amazing to know that a vast network of educational and literary organisations in Tamil Nadu is silently engaged in sustaining and nurturing this vital link language. By stimulating attention to this in this book, the author has so distinguished himself that it would be impossible for any future historian to overlook his contribution.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Book Review
