- Spreading the Sweetness of Urdu to Non-Urdu Speakers is the Need of the Hour: Professor Ravi Tekchandani
- India’s Best Minds Will Lead the Developed India Mission: Shams Equbal
- Four Technical Sessions and a Cultural Program ‘Radha-Krishna in the Urdu Garden’ Held on the Second Day of the World Urdu Conference Organized by the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language
New Delhi: On the second day of the ongoing three-day World Urdu Conference, organized by the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language at the India International Centre in New Delhi, four technical sessions were held.
The first session focused on the theme ‘Urdu as a Medium of Education.’ Delivering the inaugural speech, Dr. Shams Iqbal, Director of the Council, stated that the current scenario of Urdu as a medium of education is significant in many ways and requires attention. This session was organized to deliberate on the present situation and explore possible improvements. He expressed hope that important points related to the topic would emerge from the discussion. The session featured paper presentations by Professor Riaz Ahmed and Professor Talat Aziz, while Dr. Ammar Rizvi and Professor Ghazanfar chaired the session. The discussion participants included Professor Farooq Ansari, Professor Muhammad Faiz Ahmed, Dr. Syed Zafar Aslam, and Dr. Ahmed Ali Johar.
The session’s participants explored various aspects of Urdu as a medium of education, adopted different strategies to adapt Urdu teaching materials to modern needs, and emphasized the importance of primary education in one’s mother tongue. The session was moderated by Nusrat Jahan.
The second technical session was on ‘Using Infotainment Resources to Promote Urdu.’ Veteran filmmaker Muzaffar Ali and Ms. Kamna Prasad chaired the session, with panelists including Professor Shafi Kidwai, Mr. Javed Danish, and Dr. Salim Arif. Discussion participants included Mr. Masoom Muradabadi, Tahseen Munawwar, and Dr. Mirza Abdul Baqi Baig. This session shed light on the history of Urdu’s use in ancient Indian entertainment fields. The speakers also advocated for the promotion of Urdu through various new-age information and entertainment resources. Dr. Muntazir Qaimi moderated the session.
The third session, titled ‘Publication of Various Sciences for the Younger Generation,’ included paper presentations by Professor Idris Siddiqui, Professor Sarwat-un-Nisa Khan, and Shadab Ulfat. Professor Ravi Prakash Tekchandani chaired the session, and discussion participants included Feroze Bakht Ahmed, Ms. Shah Taj Khan, Dr. Salman Abdul Samad, and Ms. Stuti Agarwal. This session discussed various aspects of education and training for the new generation, emphasizing the need to prepare teaching materials and educators in line with modern changes. Dr. Musarrat moderated the session.
The fourth session, titled ‘The Scope of Urdu in Public Education and Measures for Reform,’ featured paper presentations by IRS officer Mr. Gulzar Wani and Dr. Muhammad Ahsan. Professor A.R. Faatihi and Professor Khwaja Muhammad Shahid chaired the session, with discussion participants including Professor Shahid Raza Jamal and Dr. Muhammad Rizwan Ali. The speakers and panelists acknowledged the shrinking space for Urdu in the current education system and explained various measures to address this challenge while also highlighting some positive linguistic aspects of the new era. Dr. Shadab Shamim moderated the session. The day’s technical sessions concluded with a vote of thanks from Council Director Dr. Shams Equbal.
At 6 PM, a cultural program titled ‘Radha-Krishna in the Urdu Garden’ was held at Chinmaya Mission, Lodhi Road. The event was written and directed by Professor Danish Iqbal and performed by Ms. Neelakshi and artists from Parangat Prayag Kala Kendra.
