The Urdu Development Organization (UDO) has drawn the attention of both Union and state governments to the deteriorated conditions of nearly all minority institutions, particularly the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL), Urdu Academy Delhi, Delhi Waqf Board, and Delhi Minorities Commission, in the national capital.
Talking toRadiance, the national president of the Delhi-based organization, working for the promotion of the Urdu language in India, Dr Syed Ahmed Khan lamented that minority institutions were established in Delhi to benefit the people of the minority communities, but now all such institutions were being completely ignored by both state and central governments.
Dr Khan, former Deputy Director at Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) under the Union Ministry of AYUSH, pointed out that instead of devising new plans to expedite the growth and operations of minority institutions, the current central and state governments had regrettably brought their functioning to a standstill.
Speaking about the NCPUL, which was established to promote, develop, and propagate the Urdu language on April 1, 1996, and has a remarkable legacy of publishing renowned Urdu books and significant literary contributions in India, Dr. Khan disclosed that the UnionGovernment failed to form a governing body or appoint a permanent director for the NCPUL for the past two years.
According to the UDO chief, owing to these factors, the literary activities of India’s premier Urdu language institution have been severely hampered, rendering it incapable of operating at full capacity and hindering the effective promotion, development, and education of Urdu.
Dr. Khan, who is also General Secretary of All India Unani Tibbi Congress (AIUTC), denounced the apparent negligence displayed by both the Central and Delhi governments towards minority institutions.
Bringing to light the shocking state of Urdu Academy Delhi, Delhi Minorities Commission, and Delhi Waqf Board, Dr Khan harshly criticized the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the Union Territory of Delhi. Dr Khan added that due to the chairman’s post at the Delhi Waqf Board lying vacant since August 2023 and the continuous delay in forming its full panel, various activities had been badly affected, citing that no assistance is provided to the poor, needy, and widowed women, imams of mosques run by the Waqf Board are not receiving their salaries, and there is a growing issue of encroachments or protection of Waqf Board properties and the dismissal of more than 70 employees.
In a recent move in September this year, the central government took control of 123 properties belonging to the Delhi Waqf Board, including several historic mosques, dargahs, and Islamic cemeteries. Following the Delhi High Court’s order, a two-member government committee to assess the status of these monuments, submitted its report, stating that it did not receive any representation or objections from the Delhi Waqf Board.
Mentioning the bad condition of the Urdu Academy Delhi, Dr. Khan informed that the formation of its governing body, once considered the most active academy in India, was also facing delays. Here too, the vice-chairman’s post remains vacant. Targeting AAP, he commented that the ruling party in Delhi, which proclaimed itself a revolutionary force in education, but the ground reality, contradicted the claim.
“The literacy centres established by the Delhi Urdu Academy to promote Urdu in Delhi have remained shuttered for the past three years, directly contradicting AAP’s claims,” he added.
Addressing the similarly dire situation at the Delhi Minorities Commission, Dr Khan spoke about the lack of any updates or actions taken by the Delhi government regarding the Commission’s status.
Reminding the central government of its responsibility towards all citizens and its slogan ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’, Dr Ahmed expressed his hope for a swift and decisive action to uplift the Urdu language, which was born in India. He advocated for the immediate implementation of a new plan for the improvement of NCPUL. If a new plan is not forthcoming, he urged the formation of the NCPUL’s governing body under the existing framework.
Sharing similar concerns about the state of NCPUL, activist Sheikh Alimuddin Asadi stressed the institution’s unique significance in promoting the Urdu language not only in India but across the globe. Advocating for the formation of the NCPUL’s governing body as early as possible, Sheikh Asadi also lamented the institution’s diminishing scope over the years.