THIS refers to the news item ‘Urdu and Hindi are one language’ (March 2). It appears Dr Fahmida Hussain Memon has formed this opinion on false grounds. According to her since British adopted the policy of divide and rule, one language was divided into Urdu and Hindi.

This is illogical. Even if we suppose it was one language, then she should identify that very language which was divided into two. We all know Urdu became the language of the Mughal forces (lashkar).

Urdu’s history is well known to everyone. On the creation of Pakistan, it was adopted as the national language for uniting the people of different regions speaking different languages.

Similarly, there is no logic in saying that Bollywood Films are seen by both Urdu-speaking and Hindi-speaking people. Bollywood Films are also seen by Bengalis, African nationals and several others. If she would have done some research, she would have known that during the Ayub Khan regime, a document on Pakistan titled ‘Languages of Pakistan’ described all major languages and at the end there was one-line statement that “Urdu is also spoken by some people in Pakistan.” Therefore, a majority of cinemagoers in Pakistan are not Urdu-speaking. We, therefore, fail to understand where she wants us to lead.

But one thing is clear: she is not an Urdu fan. With all the research to her credit she fails to understand that Urdu has the capacity and capability to be adaptable. It is, therefore, being spoken and understood not only in Pakistan but in many countries, including India.

At least two Indian states — India-held Kashmir and Bihar — have adapted Urdu as the state language. The writer may not know that in Bradford, England, it is essential to have posters in Urdu also at public places.

A police officer needs to know Urdu for being posted in Bradford. Yangon city’s main market, where the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar is resting in peace, still has signboards in Urdu. Urdu is also a common language in Dubai.

Saud Alam

Karachi

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2017