Bengali babus learning Urdu
Bengali babus learning Urdu language in less than five dollars
By Soma Mitra, Kolkata: The soul-stirring poetry of the renowned 19th Century Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib is best read in Urdu Mirza Ghalib instilled an urge to learn Urdu among many including Bengali Babu Sukalayan Roy of Kolkata.
Roy, 34, is a resident of Kolkata and employed with a State-run transport firm. For a long time, he wished to learn Urdu language. But it was only recently that he could fulfil that long-cherished wish by enrolling into West Bengal State Urdu Academy for a diploma course in Urdu language.
"Urdu is a very rich language. The inscriptions on the Taj Mahal and poetry by Mirza Ghalib are all in Urdu and we could not read that. I always regretted this. But when I came to know that the West Bengal State government had started this course, I got myself enrolled into it," said Roy.
Besides Roy, there are many who have taken up this Urdu language course. Some of these wish to fulfil their childhood wish and others who are attracted to the idea of reading couplets in their pristine original.
The Urdu language course is being offered at a meagre sum of rupees 200 (less than 5 dollars) for the entire year, making it an easy option for poor students as well.
Since its inception last year, the West Bengal State government Urdu Academy has trained more than 150 people in the language.
Academy officials say of the 155 students who enrolled for the basic one-year course last year, about 75 per cent were non-Muslims. This year of the 79 enrolled students about 70 per cent are non-Muslims.
Secretary of the Academy, Mohammad Iqbal Islam says Urdu is such a language that lends itself beautifully to poetry and prose and thus becoming popular among Bengalis too.
"Both Bengali and Urdu are very rich cultures. We also have a Bengali learning centre where we have a large number of Muslims enrolling to learn Bengali. So it's actually a two-way process where both are learning more about each other", Islam said.
The State is currently witnessing a revival of Urdu language with its increased usage in popular soap operas.
By Soma Mitra, Kolkata: The soul-stirring poetry of the renowned 19th Century Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib is best read in Urdu Mirza Ghalib instilled an urge to learn Urdu among many including Bengali Babu Sukalayan Roy of Kolkata.
Roy, 34, is a resident of Kolkata and employed with a State-run transport firm. For a long time, he wished to learn Urdu language. But it was only recently that he could fulfil that long-cherished wish by enrolling into West Bengal State Urdu Academy for a diploma course in Urdu language.
"Urdu is a very rich language. The inscriptions on the Taj Mahal and poetry by Mirza Ghalib are all in Urdu and we could not read that. I always regretted this. But when I came to know that the West Bengal State government had started this course, I got myself enrolled into it," said Roy.
Besides Roy, there are many who have taken up this Urdu language course. Some of these wish to fulfil their childhood wish and others who are attracted to the idea of reading couplets in their pristine original.
The Urdu language course is being offered at a meagre sum of rupees 200 (less than 5 dollars) for the entire year, making it an easy option for poor students as well.
Since its inception last year, the West Bengal State government Urdu Academy has trained more than 150 people in the language.
Academy officials say of the 155 students who enrolled for the basic one-year course last year, about 75 per cent were non-Muslims. This year of the 79 enrolled students about 70 per cent are non-Muslims.
Secretary of the Academy, Mohammad Iqbal Islam says Urdu is such a language that lends itself beautifully to poetry and prose and thus becoming popular among Bengalis too.
"Both Bengali and Urdu are very rich cultures. We also have a Bengali learning centre where we have a large number of Muslims enrolling to learn Bengali. So it's actually a two-way process where both are learning more about each other", Islam said.
The State is currently witnessing a revival of Urdu language with its increased usage in popular soap operas.
posted by webustaad at 5:39 PM
1 Comments:
Urdu is a beautiful language, insh'Allah it will be my third language after Bangla and English. I'm from Bangladesh, and even though I have love for Bangla I desire to learn Urdu.
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