[Photo Caption: Minister of Minority Affairs K Rahman Khan inaugurating the NCPUL's Urdu Book Fair in Malegaon on January 03, 2014. Also seen are Mayor of Malegaon Tahera Shaikh Rasheed and Director of NCPUL Khwaja Ikramuddin.(Photo: Zohair M Safwan/ummid.com)]
Malegaon: Minister of Minority Affairs K Rahman Khan while inaugurating Friday the ten-day Urdu festival (Kitab Mela) organised in Malegaon by the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) said there should be a campaign for demanding the primary education in the Urdu language.
"We all say we are working for promotion of the Urdu language. At the same time, we also blame others for ignoring the language. But the question is what have we actually done for its promotion?" he asked while addressing the inaugural ceremony attended by a huge crowd.
"This is high time for all of us to analyse the injustice we have done to the Urdu language and make corrective measures", he said.
He said that there were protests by the Muslim community for every big or small thing. However, he said, he never saw any protest or campaign for protection of the Urdu language.
"The constitution has given the necessary protection to the Urdu language. Have we ever used this constitutional right to demand protection of our mother tongue? Never", he said.
Emphasising that education is the only tool using which the Indian Muslims can prosper, Rahman Khan, who himself is a student of Urdu medium school, said there should be a campaign demanding primary education in the Urdu language.
Expressing concern over the shoddy state of the Urdu medium schools he urged the NGOs and school authorities to reach out to the masses and make them realise their responsibilities.
"Instead of being a community who depends on others, we should be like a contributor and donor. We should always try to work and contribute for the development of the country", he said.
Stating that Mushaeras and public meetings would not help promotion of the Urdu language, he said:
"We should work at grass-root level if we really want the language to survive."
Rejecting the notion that Urdu is the language of Muslims, he said:
"We find Urdu lovers everywhere and they are not all Muslims. The fact is that those who do not know Urdu, they also admit that it is a very sweet language."
Praising people of Malegaon he said that the love, devotion and commitment he saw was unmatchable and very rare.
"Your love, affection and devotion for the Urdu language show that it has a bright future", he said.
Before inaugurating the Urdu book fair (Urdu Kitab Mela), K Rahman Khan flagged off an "Urdu Carvan" which was attended by over 50,000 people mostly school students. They were carrying banners and raising slogans asking people to learn and speak in the Urdu language.
Over 50 publishers from different parts of the country have showcased books of different titles in 62 stalls.
The even is organised by National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) under HRD Minister and is supported locally by Malegaon Society of Education and Pasban-e-Adab of Mumbai.
A high-level team of NCPUL led by Khurram Shehzad and Aseem A is camping in the city to coordinate with the local volunteers for the successful and smooth organisation of the Urdu Kitab Mela in Malegaon.
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