TOI endorse budget to help Urdu
As mentioned previously Govt. of India has put provision in the budget for hiring of Urdu teachers. Times of India supports this move. Of course, I don't agree with calling Urdu a "dying language."
It will revive a dying language
In his Budget speech the finance minister announced Central assistance for the recruitment of Urdu teachers for primary and upper-primary schools in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. This is a welcome initiative. The few feeble attempts made in the past by the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar governments to revive the language by including it in the school curriculum haven't worked. A dose of Central funds was badly needed to infuse life into this dying language. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra account for more than 85% of the Urdu-speaking population of the country. But, except in Bihar, Urdu is virtually out of the school syllabus. With every census the number of people who can read and write Urdu is declining. Naturally, the literary output in the once glorious language has also declined. Today, the Muslim elite send their children to English-medium schools. Urdu is confined to lower middle class who has learnt the language at madrassas. The status of the language is not likely to improve unless it is integrated into the modern educational framework with good job opportunities.
Some could argue that this mere tokenism is meant to appease Muslims. Those who view Urdu as the sole preserve of Muslims do grave injustice to a language born out of our syncretic culture. Just look at the galaxy of non-Muslim Urdu writers and poets. In fact, one of the reasons for the decline of this rich language is the religious overtones attached to it. Even though education is a state subject, Central intervention has always paid off — the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the Navodaya Vidyalayas, the National Literacy Mission are some examples of the positive effects of Central initiatives. The Centre's involvement in this case too, is sure to help. The Central government should not just confine itself to giving grants, but should monitor its effective implementation as well.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1043798.cms
It will revive a dying language
In his Budget speech the finance minister announced Central assistance for the recruitment of Urdu teachers for primary and upper-primary schools in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. This is a welcome initiative. The few feeble attempts made in the past by the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar governments to revive the language by including it in the school curriculum haven't worked. A dose of Central funds was badly needed to infuse life into this dying language. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra account for more than 85% of the Urdu-speaking population of the country. But, except in Bihar, Urdu is virtually out of the school syllabus. With every census the number of people who can read and write Urdu is declining. Naturally, the literary output in the once glorious language has also declined. Today, the Muslim elite send their children to English-medium schools. Urdu is confined to lower middle class who has learnt the language at madrassas. The status of the language is not likely to improve unless it is integrated into the modern educational framework with good job opportunities.
Some could argue that this mere tokenism is meant to appease Muslims. Those who view Urdu as the sole preserve of Muslims do grave injustice to a language born out of our syncretic culture. Just look at the galaxy of non-Muslim Urdu writers and poets. In fact, one of the reasons for the decline of this rich language is the religious overtones attached to it. Even though education is a state subject, Central intervention has always paid off — the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the Navodaya Vidyalayas, the National Literacy Mission are some examples of the positive effects of Central initiatives. The Centre's involvement in this case too, is sure to help. The Central government should not just confine itself to giving grants, but should monitor its effective implementation as well.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1043798.cms
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