Languages

Q: Why was Urdu chosen as the national language in 1947? [7]

Ans:

One of the reasons of choosing Urdu as the national language was its long history of

affiliation with the Muslim community of India. It grew tremendously during the period of the

Sultanate of Delhi (1206-1526) when poets like Amir Khusrau and Wali Dakani composed

Urdu poetry. Later, during the Mughal period (1526-1857) it was patronized by the Mughal

kings and eventually it became the court language. During this period, poets like Mir Taqi Mir,

Ghalib, Momin and Bahadur Shah Zafar greatly enriched Urdu poetry.

Urdu has a rich literary background with voluminous writings both in prose and poetry.

Three great poets, Mir, Ghalib and Iqbal composed world class poetry while during the 19th

century Urdu prose also began to flourish with the first Urdu novels written by Sharar and

Mirza Hadi Ruswa became popular. At the same time Urdu religious stock also grew when

translations of and commentaries on the Quran were written in addition to translation of the

Hadith literature and the Islamic law. Sir Syed’s Aligarh Movement also contributed to the

development of Urdu.

Pakistan has a culturally diversified landscape with four major regional languages with

several other small languages. In such a country one common language was thought to be a

source of promoting a sense belonging to one nation. This way Urdu could serve as a uniting

force between several cultural communities living in Pakistan. Therefore, Jinnah declared it

the national language of Pakistan in 1947.

Q. Urdu was chosen as national language mainly to promote national

unity. Do you agree or disagree? Explain. (14)

Ans. Urdu remains the most popular language in Pakistan. Being a newly created state,

Pakistan needed to inculcate a strong sense of nationalism among its people.

part of the world. Jinnah was, therefore, advised to follow the policy of “One Nation

One Language”. By speaking the same language people of Pakistan were expected

to develop a feeling of belonging to one nation, though Bengali in East Pakistan was

also a major language. It was thought to bridge the provincial and regional gaps in a

country with diversified linguistic heritage. Thus, people living in various provinces

and areas could be linked to each other by a ‘lingua franca’ (popularly spoken

language).

However, there were other important considerations too. Out of all the regional

languages Urdu was the most developed language with a strong and rich literary

background. In its journey of evolution many Urdu novels, short stories, essays,

religious and non-religious writings had become popular much before the creation of

Pakistan. Urdu is among those few languages that have as many as three great poets:

Mir Taqi Mir, Ghalib and Iqbal. Translations of the Quran, Hadith, biography of the

Holy Prophet and Islamic jurisprudence further enriched the Urdu literature. So, it was

easier to adopt such a highly developed language as the national language.

Urdu had a history of long association with the Indian Muslims. Its Persian/Arabic

script reflects that it remained more popular among the Muslims of India. During the

period of the Sultanate of Delhi (1206-1526), such major poets as Amir Khusrau

(1253-1325), Quli Qutub Shah and Wali Deccani all composed high quality Urdu

verse. Then, during the Mughal rule it was greatly patronized by the Mughal Court.

With the passage of time, it began to replace Persian. During the 18th and 19th

centuries several Urdu poets became prominent like Mir Dard, Sauda, Momin, Zauq,

and the last Mughal king Bahadur Shah Zafar. The Aligarh Movement produced many

good poets and writers like Hali and Shibli.

Another important reason was Urdu’s close association with the Pakistan Movement.

Sir Syed had defended Urdu as the cultural identity of Muslims when Hindus in 1867,

demanded that Hindi should be made the official language of India. When Muslim

League was formed in 1906, its objectives also included protection and promotion of
Urdu. In the 1930’s the Muslim League began to consider that Urdu as its official

language. In 1937, the Muslim League to make all efforts possible to make Urdu their

official language. Later in the 1940’s Urdu newspapers highlighted the cause of the

Pakistan Movement and the activities of its leaders.

It may be concluded that Urdu was declared as the national language primarily to

foster a sense of national unity because language is one of the strongest marks of

cultural identity of any nation, and since the creation of Pakistan was a new

experience for its people, they needed to realise that they had their own distinct

identity as a nation.

Q: How has the Pakistan government promoted the development of

Urdu between 1947 and 1999? [4]

Ans.

Urdu was declared as the national language of Pakistan. It was made the medium of

education in educational institutes of the public and private sector. Special awards were

offered to the best writings in prose and poetry by the government. Most of the programs,

plays and news are broadcast on radio and TV in Urdu. Federal Ministry of Information has

been issuing the monthly “Mah-i-Nau” from Lahore, and a quarterly “Adabiyat” is issued by

the Academy of Letters, Islamabad.

Q: Why have regional languages been promoted by the Pakistani

government between 1947 and 1999? (7)

Ans. Regional languages form the basis of cultural identity of Pakistan along with Urdu.

With the declaration of Urdu as the national language, government decided to

promote regional languages, too. Sindhi, among all regional languages, was the first

to have adopted the Arabic script. This reflects its close association with Islam.

Several sufi poets, such as Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai and Sachal Sarmast wrote Sindhi

verse. Therefore, it was important to promote it. After 1947, many institutes were set

up to promote Sindhi. They include Sachal Sarmast Academy and the Department of

Sindhology in the University of Sindh.

Pashto is spoken in Khyber Pakhtoon Khwa (former NWFP) and its literature carries
a strong element of resistance against the foreign rule. Such an element of resistance

is quite visible in the poetry of Khushhal Khan Khattak and Rehman Baba. This way

Pashto became associated with the Pakistan movement. Therefore, after

independence, Islamia College Peshawar and University of Peshawar contributed to

the development of Pashto.

Balochi is spoken in the largest province in terms of its area but the least populated

province. It had traditionally been underdeveloped due to a lack of its preservation in

written form. Also, the people of Balochistan had to be assured of their significance

as a cultural unit of Pakistan and so, it had to be promoted. For many years after

independence, Radio Pakistan Karachi, and later PTV Karachi began to broadcast

Balochi programmes. In the early 1970s, PTV Quetta started to promote Balochi.

Q: How has the Pakistan government promoted the development of

Punjabi since 1947 (1947-1999)? [4]

Ans.

Punjabi is offered as an optional subject at the college and university level as well as

in the competitive examinations. University of the Punjab has been encouraging research

work on Punjabi language and literature. Government has supported poets and writers like

Munir Niazi, Dr Anwar Sadeed, Habib Jalib and Ustad Daman for their work. PTV and Radio

Pakistan, Lahore have been broadcasting Punjabi plays and other programs for the

promotion of Punjabi.

Q: How has Pakistan promoted the development of Sindhi since 1947

(1947-1999)? [4]

Ans.

Government set up Sindhi Literary Board in 1948, “Bazm-i-Talib-ul-Maula” in 1954,

and later, Sachal Sarmast Academy. A department of Sindhology was set up in the Sindh

University, Jamshoro to encourage research on Sindhi language and literature. Under the

1972 Language Bill, Sindhi and Urdu were declared the national languages of Sindh. Radio

stations of Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur, and PTV Karachi have been broadcasting
programs in Sindhi.

Q: How has Pakistan promoted the development of Pashto since 1947

(1947-1999)? [4]

Ans.

Pushto was promoted by the Peshawar University, and the Academy of Pashto that

was established in 1954. This institute under the chairmanship of Maulana Abdul Qadir took

great pains to compile the first Pashto dictionary. Pashto is taught at college and university

level, and post graduate classes are held in Peshawar University. Radio Pakistan Peshawar

and PTV Peshawar broadcast a variety of programs in Pashto. Abasin Arts Council has been

promoting Pashto theatre.

Q: How has the Pakistan government promoted the development of

Balochi since 1947 (1947-1999)? [4]

Ans.

Radio Pakistan Karachi, and later, PTV Karachi broadcasted programs in Balochi

after independence. After the establishment of PTV Quetta, many more programs began to

be telecasted. Baloch Literary Association was set up for the same purpose. Newspapers like

“Awaam” and some weekly and monthly magazines like “Omaan”, “Sangat” and “Mahatak”

were issued in Balochi. Government has patronized prominent poets and writers in Balochi

that include Atta Shad, Ishaq Shamim, Gul Khan Nazir and Azad Jamal Din.

Q: Promotion of Urdu was more important/successful than promotion

of the regional languages of Pakistan between 1947 and 1999. Do

you agree or disagree? Explain. (14)

Ans. The Quaid-i-Azam declared Urdu as the national language soon after independence.

Urdu had been closely associated with the Muslims for centuries and became one of

the foundational pillars of the Pakistan movement in later years. Government took

many steps to promote it. The 1973 Constitution pledges to make it the official

language, too. Government patronized it by encouraging prominent poets like Faiz,

Faraz, Munir Niazi and Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi who were given various awards. Baba-

i-Urdu Award, Adamjee Award, Hijra Award and the Prime Minister’s Award were
introduced for this purpose. Urdu was declared as the medium of education in all

public sector schools and a compulsory subject in private sector institutes.

However, regional languages were also promoted. Punjabi is spoken in the largest

province, Punjab. It has a rich literary stock with such ‘sufi’ (saintly) poets as Waris

Shah, Baba Farid and Bulleh Shah. Punjabi played important role in the Pakistan

movement. It was introduced as an optional subject in colleges. Research activities

were conducted in the University of Punjab. Prominent poets and writers were

encouraged, for example, Habib Jalib, Munir Niazi, Ahmed Rahi and others by giving

them awards on their writings. Some Punjabi newspapers were issued from Lahore,

like the Daily Sajjan, in the 1980’s.

Sindhi is the language of Sindh, the second largest province. Its literature is closely

linked with Islam as it is the first regional language that had adopted the Arabic script

due to the arrival of Arab Muslims in Sindh in 712 AD. Its literary treasure comprised

such poet as Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai and Sachal Sarmast. Government took many

steps to promote it. The Department of Sindhology was set up in the University of

Hyderabad. Other bodies include Bazm-i-Talib ul Maula, Sachal Sarmast Academy

and the Sindhi Literary Board. Under the Language Bill of 1972, Z.A. Bhutto declared

it the national language of Sindh along with Urdu. Prominent writers such as Pir Ali

Muhammad Rashidi and G. Alana were given awards.

Pashto is spoken in the province of Khyber Pakhtoon Khwa and its literature contains

resistance against foreign rule that is seen in the poetry of Khushhal Khan Khattak

and Rahman Baba. After 1947, University of Peshawar and Islamia College Peshawar

promoted it. First Pashto dictionary had been compiled a few years later. An academy

of promotion of Pashto was set up in 1954. Professor Pareeshan Khattak and

Maulana Abdul Qadir played prominent role in its development. Abaseen Arts Council

promoted Pashto Theatre.

Balochi is the least developed language of Pakistan as it had its literature in the form

of oral traditions. Balochistan is the least developed and least populated province.

This also necessitated to promote Balochi language. Initially, University of Karachi

Quetta TV Centre, this language was promoted by electronic media. Poets and writers

like Atta Shad and Gul Khan Nazir also contributed to its promotion. Balochi Literary

Association was also created.

It may be concluded that Urdu was promoted the most because the bulk of Urdu

writings outweighs those of all regional languages. Moreover, due to the efforts of the

government and intellectuals, Urdu is gaining popularity across the globe..