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Mumbai:
The government of Maharashtra in an award giving function of a
state body March 14 unleashed a new list of promises for promotion
of the Urdu language and empowerment of the Muslim minority in the
state.
"We are establishing Urdu Ghar
in entire Maharashtra on a huge 10,000 sq ft land at each
place. It will be equipped with all facilities including an
auditorium and a library", Minister of Awkaf and Minority
Department Arif Naseem Khan said while addressing the annual award
giving function of Maharashtra State Urdu Academy held at YB
CHavan Auditorium in Mumbai.
"The Urdu Ghar will also have a
state of the art hostel facility to accommodate the outside
scholars and dignitaries who will come for the programs", he
added.
"Initially the proposed Urdu Ghar
would be established in Aurangabad, Nanded, Nagpur and Mumbai.
Later, it would be established everywhere in the state one by
one", he went on.
Highlighting various schemes the
government of Maharashrtra has undertaken for the development of
Urdu schools, Arif Naseem Khan said, "We have already given Rs.
200,000 to every Urdu school in Maharashtra to improve their
infrastructure. We are now planning to establish 43 ITI Colleges
and polytechnics in the Muslim dominated areas of the state."
However, the big claims of Arif
Naseem Khan looked hollow when the Chief Minister, who was Chief
Guest of the function, expressed in his speech the difficulties
the government is facing in getting the lands for the construction
of the proposed Urdu Ghar.
"We have identified the land to
establish Urdu Ghar in Nanded. We are hopeful that we will get
suitable land in Auraganad. But getting land for the purpose at a
place like Mumbai is very difficult", Chief Minister Prithviraj
Chavan said in his speech.
"Still we are trying hard to get
some suitable land in the Kalina area of Mumbai for an Urdu Ghar",
he added.
Realising that the gathering is full
of Urdu speaking people, who thronged the auditorium coming from
entire Maharashtra, the Chief Minister did not miss the chance to
express his love for Urdu and his commitment for its promotion.
"Linking Urdu language with any
religion is wrong. Urdu is the language of Indians and a testimony
to secular Indian culture. I am proud of it", he said.
The Chief Minister also expressed
regret for the delay in announcing the Maharashtra State Urdu
Academy's annual awards.
"Its very bad on our part that we
are giving the annual awards after a gap of many years. We will
try that this does not happen in future", he said.
He also declared that the pending
awards for the year 2009, 2010 and 2011 would also be announced
very soon.
Maharashrshtra State Urdu Academy
March 14 conferred awards on a total of 114 Urdu scholars,
academicians, critics, historians and journalists from all over
Maharashtra. The award giving ceremony was held after a gap of six
years and the awards were given for the year from 2004 to 2008.
The awards for 2009, 2010 and 2011 are still pending.
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