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DarkStar · 09-07-2009, 06:33 PM

Great article, neo...one small misconception that I think must be cleared...that Urdu, somehow dervied from Hindi...

That is an untruth, since Hindi, as we know it today, is a fairly recent phenomenon...

The first writer who ventured into this territory, was Tulsi das, who as an Awadhi, wrote an epic translation of the Ramayan, called the Raamcharitra Maanus. He based it upon one of the dialects in the area, but the language that he ended up creating was not one that was understood at all. It was full of sanskrit words, and it is a much loved and beautiful, epic poem.

Although this did not catch on, it was only in the early 20th century, with the likes of Mahavir prashad Dwivedi, Pandit Dayaanand, and others who spearheaded the drive to promote heavily sanskritized forms of Urdu/Hindustani, which they called Sahityik Hindi. Lots of journals, and literay seminars were held to encourage writers, authors, and poets to switch from the standard khadi boli dialect of urdu, and promote this new sanskiritized language, shudh hindi.

Of course, the re-branding of urdu khadi boli into Hindi has been quite successful on the face of it, but dig a little deeper, and you realise, that the masses have not forsake Urdu, they still converse in the heavily persianised/arabised khadi boli, without even realising it. No matter how heavy the pro sanskrit lobby is, the heart of the people and their tongues still go to using the word lekin, rather than parantoo/kintu, dunya rather than jug, etc.

Watching a film like Mughale Azam, and seeing it classified as Hindi, or listening to any bollywood song full of persian/arabised words in the Urdu language, and its claims to be Hindi, is quite amusing.

Though less so, when the credit due to urdu poets, and literature is not given.

When the fact that Lata Mangeshkar the great, had to study Urdu to perfect her singing pronunciation, and that she still reads the lyrics in Urdu today, is not highlighted.

When the Urdu language is being systematically killed by the Bharati state, by closing schools, withdrawing funds, etc.

09-07-2009, 06:33 PM	#25 (permalink)
DarkStar Administrator Lt. Colonel Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 926 Thanks: 32 Thanked 48 Times in 29 Posts	Re: Views on the issue of national language in Pakistan Great article, neo...one small misconception that I think must be cleared...that Urdu, somehow dervied from Hindi... That is an untruth, since Hindi, as we know it today, is a fairly recent phenomenon... The first writer who ventured into this territory, was Tulsi das, who as an Awadhi, wrote an epic translation of the Ramayan, called the Raamcharitra Maanus. He based it upon one of the dialects in the area, but the language that he ended up creating was not one that was understood at all. It was full of sanskrit words, and it is a much loved and beautiful, epic poem. Although this did not catch on, it was only in the early 20th century, with the likes of Mahavir prashad Dwivedi, Pandit Dayaanand, and others who spearheaded the drive to promote heavily sanskritized forms of Urdu/Hindustani, which they called Sahityik Hindi. Lots of journals, and literay seminars were held to encourage writers, authors, and poets to switch from the standard khadi boli dialect of urdu, and promote this new sanskiritized language, shudh hindi. Of course, the re-branding of urdu khadi boli into Hindi has been quite successful on the face of it, but dig a little deeper, and you realise, that the masses have not forsake Urdu, they still converse in the heavily persianised/arabised khadi boli, without even realising it. No matter how heavy the pro sanskrit lobby is, the heart of the people and their tongues still go to using the word lekin, rather than parantoo/kintu, dunya rather than jug, etc. Watching a film like Mughale Azam, and seeing it classified as Hindi, or listening to any bollywood song full of persian/arabised words in the Urdu language, and its claims to be Hindi, is quite amusing. Though less so, when the credit due to urdu poets, and literature is not given. When the fact that Lata Mangeshkar the great, had to study Urdu to perfect her singing pronunciation, and that she still reads the lyrics in Urdu today, is not highlighted. When the Urdu language is being systematically killed by the Bharati state, by closing schools, withdrawing funds, etc.