IT WAS both heartwarming and heartbreaking to read Dr Rauf Parekh’s column, ‘A Turkish scholar of Urdu and great friend of Pakistan’ (Oct 4), about Prof (Dr) Halil Toker.

Professor Toker had studied Persian and Urdu for his doctorate and went on to write 26 books, mostly in Urdu, including collections of his own Urdu poetry.

His major contribution being the translation of the works of Allama Iqbal into Turkish. He has also published over 200 articles and papers in various languages.

In addition, he knows Persian, English and Hindi, besides speaking Punjabi fluently, (which he calls the language of his in-laws), having married a Pakistani girl from Lahore. The gentleman loves Pakistan and Urdu and we can be truly proud to have such a wonderful friend from the brotherly country of Turkey.

It was, however, shocking to learn that once, when he sent some Turkish students to the Pakistani consulate in Istanbul so that they could polish up their knowledge of Urdu by conversing with the staff in the language, they were treated rudely by the latter.

First, when the pupils tried to speak to the staff in Urdu, they responded in English. Secondly, when the students revealed they wanted to talk to them in Urdu since they were trying to learn the tongue, the consulate employees said, “Kya pagal hogae ho? Urdu kyoon seekh rahe ho? Kya dunya mein tumhen aur koi kaam nahin?” (Have you gone mad? Why are you learning Urdu?

Don’t you have anything else in the world to do?) There are other examples where our diplomats in Turkey let Prof Toker down and thwarted his efforts to promote the teaching of our national language over there.

As a Pakistani, I am extremely angry with these people. They are sent at great public expense to strengthen the ties with our friends overseas, not to undermine them.

I feel that the president should award Professor Halil Toker (his first name is actually ‘Khalil’ but spelled as ‘Halil’ in the Turkish script and the surname would probably be ‘Tauqeer’, if we were to write it with the Hilal-i-Pakistan). And he must be provided full assistance in his endeavours to promote Urdu in Turkey.

KHALID CHAUDHRYKarachi