OFTEN the Urdu-speaking students who have to learn Sindhi in schools express some difficulties. But it is not that difficult.

First, more than 50 per cent of the Urdu and Sindhi words are common, as both the languages contain words from Arabic, Persian and Sanskrit and, secondly, more than 50 per cent of the Urdu alphabet are the same as Sindhi, because while Urdu has 26 letters, Sindhi has 52.

When we can easily understand the Star Plus dramas and Indian films, which contain Hindi words, why can't we understand Sindhi?

But for convenience, I suggest that Sindhi textbooks should have simple lessons and also the words printed therein must contain the 'zer', 'zabar', 'pesh', 'jazm', 'tashdeed' and all other signs, so that it should be easy to read. Possibly when a word is unavoidable to use, its Urdu meaning be given in the footnotes.

I request the Sindh minister for education to get those books rewritten with the signs as suggested above.

MAULA BUX

Tando Allahyar