The Travesty of Urdu Councils and Forums
By
Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, New Age Islam
10 July
2023
Urdu was
the official language of J&K before the abrogation of Article 370. It still
continues to be one of the official languages, still taught as one of the
vernacular languages along with Kashmiri till high school to all the students
in Kashmir valley. Before J&K that was divided and reduced to a union
territory, Urdu language bound each three distinct divisions of Jammu, Kashmir
and Ladakh together. Now in the changed scenario each division is pushing for
its own regional language like Dogri, Kashmiri, Hindi, Ladakhi and even
Punjabi. This language battle will continue. But certainly, the downgrading of
Urdu language as official one by inducting other languages did hamper its
reach, but it did not impact its growth that already was stalled. There is a
plethora of reasons, why Urdu is marginalized, and government neglect forms a
minuscule aspect of it, Urdu is suffering because of the neglect of those who
claim to be its protectors. Their vested interests have altogether destroyed
Urdu as they rendered it a hostage to their whims while exploiting it. Language
can be used as an effective tool like religion for personal aggrandizement.
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Also
Read: Muslims and Urdu Language: From Crisis to Conspiracy
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Few years
back, few teachers, social workers, language activists and an Urdu publisher
came together to form an Urdu Council in Kashmir. I as a young person who
already was volunteering with an Islamic Trust, where I wasted a decade of my
life being exploited by a charlatan advocate who filled his personal coffers at
my expense as through my contacts, I got funding for the flood victims of 2014
in Kashmir. At its very office, Urdu council was formed and I became a member
too, contributing modest monetary contribution each month. Quite late I got to
know that the so-called language activists and publisher had already fell out
from an earlier Urdu foundation due to ego and other clashes as happens with
most Muslim organizations. Thus these disgruntled members now opened a new shop
under the name and title of Urdu Council. I did attend its meetings quite
judiciously, but not much pragmatic and actionable steps were taken for the
cause of Urdu, except the formation of a committee that decided to meet
bureaucrats, other officials of the state and plead with them for the rescue
and protection of Urdu language.
Basically,
Urdu cause was utilized to build personal rapport and liaison with those in
power. Sometimes some poetical recitations of local poets were organized. I
desist poetry as poets are the most idealist and impractical people, although I
do sometimes indulge in poetry but it never is a serious task, in which one’s
energy is to be utilized. Poets have only given false hopes, created imaginary
world, rendered Muslims emotional, leading to the false priorities and failures
that galore the Muslim community today. Hence, I never attended any poetical
recitations organized by the council. The publisher pushed his books through
official visits, so he always had a vested interest that bound him to the
council.
Later I
left the so-called Islamic trust where the failed advocate was siphoning off
the Zakah money meant for the poor or using it for personal aggrandizement and
advertisement. Hence being a part of exploitative nexus was to destroy one’s
time, money and hereafter. I volunteered my time and money for the cause of
poor, orphans and widows only to realize that the failed lawyer was using these
funds raised from people for his personal expenses without being accountable
before us. I left quietly because if I would have made it public, the trust of
people would have shattered beyond repair on trusts and NGOs with an Islamic
name. This failed advocate also was a trustee of this Urdu Council, so to be a
member of it was to recognize and give legitimacy to this criminal again. I
left the Council too and they too did not bother to recall or request me to
join them again. Infact they were happy, because now they could conduct the
affairs in a dictatorial manner as they abhorred democracy. A person like me
who always demands accountability particularly for the money raised and
utilized is a liability for those who earn it by raising a false flag about any
cause be it of language or religion. I left and they continued with mockery of
poetical recitations. They also involved some retired bureaucrats who in power
did much damage to the cause of Urdu, but now do not want to be forgotten from
public memory utilize such forums to remain in news. Most of them have done
nothing on ground for the cause of Urdu, but want to claim and appropriate it
for personal clout presenting themselves as its saviours. Infact I informed
them that what the council could not achieve and carryout in years with so many
members and revenue, I at personal level did much more by translating few books
from Urdu into English, reading and reviewing Urdu books for English websites
and journals, while every month dedicatedly buying Urdu books for thousands of
rupees.
Similar is
the case with numerous writers and researchers like me who in their individual
capacity contribute silently to the Urdu cause, while these Councils and Forums
continue to be personal fiefdoms of few individuals who hijack and exploit the
Urdu language under the garb of protecting and promoting it. Most of the
causes, councils and congregations that are led by Muslims fail to achieve
their objectives because the intentions with which they are conceived are not
pure. Add to it the fact that most Muslims except those associated with the
revivalist movements do not know how to work as a Team. Team spirit, Asbiyah
and fellow feeling as community (Ummat Panna) is missing from Muslims. So, when
egos, material interests, lust for power and hunger for fame all come together
then certainly any collective forum will not become an institution but it will
be sabotaged into factions. These factions can then no longer function for any
collective goal, but retrograde to battle grounds of personality cults and
fiefdoms. Thus, a lot of money, time and resources of community are destroyed
and hijacked by a person and few persons will grow materially, monetarily and
collectively at the expense of community. The funds and time volunteered will
go into making a person rich while community continues to reel under darkness.
Hence, Muslim community should very well know the credentials and antecedents
of a forum or council, its trustees and members before offering them donation
of time and money. It can happen that in the end they may grow disillusioned
and any hopes of unity will be decimated to the ground. Forums, Councils and
people like these are responsible for pushing the community in the abyss of
darkness for their personal interests. They lead to the disillusionment among Muslim
youth inspiring them to commit frauds and crimes because they are poor role
models in the community, who sabotage every flicker of hope.
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M.H.A. Sikander
is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-politics/travesty-urdu-councils-forums/d/130179
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