progressive movement in Urdu

Urdu was remained associated with the man in the street, and around early 20th century when it seemed all Urdu can offer escapism and senseless love poetry, Progressive Writers Association was formed. It gave voice of suffering and pain of the common man.

Some of the biggest name in Urdu literature of 20th century were member of this Progressive Movement e.g. Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Sahir Ludhyanvi, Sardar Jafri, Sajjad Zahir, Qurattul Ain etc.

The article below talks about Ahmed Ali, another writer of that era.

Ahmed Ali and Twilight in Delhi : by Khademul Islam

English and Urdu

With coming of British in India, Urdu came into direct contact with the language that was becoming a very influential in the world. Urdu not only held its ground against English but won a few lovers in the English speaking world.

Urdu has given many words to the English language which are commonly used now. e.g. bazaar, khaki etc. In the latest edition Oxford English Dictionary a few more words have been included.

"What's wrong with Urdu? Even the Oxford Dictionary embraces the usage of yet more words spoken in South Asia in its 11th edition unveiled just recently. Words like dicky (car boot or trunk), batchmate (classmate) fitna (unrest or rebellion), jihad or jihadist, niqab, and punditocracy are now perfectly legit (as the Americans call it) to use as pucca English. "

Read this article from New York, which will give you more background about Urdu and introduce you to some of the scholars.

On Dicky and Fitna : The Daily Star Web Edition

Abdul Kareem : Victoria's teacher

In the last post, we saw that Queen Victoria knew Urdu well enough to express her emotions in that language. Queen Victoria had never even been to India. But she had a few people brought from India as servants. This was done so that she could expand her knowledge of India.



Abdul Karim was Queen Victoria's Urdu teacher.

"In 1887 Karim was sent to England at the age of 24 as a "gift" for the queen. He became the old woman's closest male friend . Karim began service as a waiter at table and ended up as her Indian Secretary, teaching her Urdu and Hindustani.

She called him her Munshi (teacher in Urdu), and his portrait was painted after Swoboda returned from India.

Karim had a cottage for his family at each of the queen's residences, and ate with the household, not the servants. He had his own carriage and a yacht for the use of his wife, aunts and parents-in-law.

His position was the cause of much jealousy, and there was a scandal when the queen lost a brooch after visiting his house in Windsor. Scandals about royal servants are clearly nothing new.

When the queen died in 1901 Karim and his family were sent back to India, but Victoria had ensured that he had a proper pension. "

http://www.suntimes.co.za/2002/12/01/lifestyle/life24.asp

Queen Victoria

It would be very surprising for many to know that Queen Victoria knew Urdu, Here is a page from her Diary dated 14 January 1892 :



click on the link to see the full image

Source :
Thanks to Dr. Frances Pritchett