Urdu Does Not Belong To A Religion

Urdu does not belong to a religion: Javed

IANS | Mar 28, 2011, 12.40pm IST

Javed Akhtar More Pics

Urdu does not enjoy the 
status that it deserves because
 of lack of enough government 
support, said well-known lyricist
 Javed Akhtar at a Urdu book fair 
organised at the Jamia Millia 
Islamia here. 


Every year the National Council 
for Promotion of Urdu Language
 (NCPUL) organises this
book fair in different cities for
promotion ofUrdu language. This
year's book fair started Saturday in Jamia university premises and it was
inaugurated by well known scriptwriter Javed Akhtar.


While talking about Urdu language Javed Akhtar said that other languages
belong to a region but unfortunately Urdu is the only language which has been
assigned a religion. According to him, Urdu was the only language that talked
about liberalism and secularism even before these words came into existence.


Another Urdu writer Akhtarul Wasey (Vice Chairman of Delhi Urdu Academy)
 said "Urdu language does not belong to a religion. None of the languages 
need religion but all religions need a language."


Azeez Burni, joint editor of Sahara newspaper, said: "Why do Indians feel
 ashamed of not being able to speak English? We should not forget that Urdu
 was the only language that showed its power during the struggle of independence.
 English was the most hated language at that time but, now the situation is
contrary. We have forgotten about our heritage."


"Urdu will be ahead of all the languages in future because future lies in
convergence," said Dr. Hameedullah Bhatt, director of NCPUL.


He added, "Urdu has a very rich 500 years old past. Very big names of 
Indian history like Ghalib and Iqbal have been associated with Urdu.
But the reason Urdu failed was partition."


Actress Shabana Azmi said that Urdu needs a lot more to keep its identity alive. 
She said that she was not invited to the function but her love for Urdu brought her
here and the same kind of love and passion is needed to strengthen Urdu's position.


Khalid Mahmood, M.D. Jamia Makhtaba Pvt. Ltd., said that their publication 
has been participating in this exhibition since twelve years. He said "this publication 
existed even before independence and it continues to exist in spite of the tough time it 
went through. It is true that Urdu does not enjoy the same status as English because 
of lack of support but still it is growing."

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

IANS , March 28th, 2011

Akbar Hyderabadi - Renowned Urdu poet publishes First English-language poetry at the age of 86

POETRY NEWS

Renowned Urdu poet publishes first English-language collection at 86

BY POETRY NEWS

The Oxford Mail interviews Akbar Alikhan, better known as Akbar Hyderabadi to readers of Urdu poetry. Alikhan moved to Oxford from Hyderabad in 1955 to study architecture, but never stopped writing the poetry that connected him to India.

He said: “I did not make a switch to poetry from architecture; poetry has always been a divining force in my life.

“My poems started off nostalgic, as I missed Hyderabad, but I would soon be inspired more by whom I met, and by what I read about the world.”

His five collections in Urdu have garnered him international recognition, awards and symposia invitations but remained inaccessible to his own family, who didn’t grow up with the language. After forty years of publishing only in Urdu, Alikhan is releasing his first English-language book Reflections at the age of 86.

He said: “For many years I wrote the occasional English poem. In fact, in the late 1960s/early 70s I dabbled with a bit of English songwriting, which may have been the catalyst. And in the mid-70s I presented a weekly programme on Radio Oxford for Asian listeners called abrang, which means multi colours.

“I published Reflections because I wanted to reach out to poets who may not have been brought up with Urdu, and also to my own immediate family.”

source: http://www.poetryfoundation.org

Salman Khurshid's Book - "Sons of Babur" . Read out in a public function

Sons of Babur - A play in search of India  . A book by Salman Khurshid .CHENNAI: Those who allowed diversity in India thrived, while those who did not understand this idea became part of the process of decline, N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu, said, participating in a book reading session of Union Minister Salman Khurshid's ‘Sons of Babur – A play in search of India.'

There were some however, who did not understand or respect the tremendous diversity of India, Mr. Ram added.

Mr. Khurshid's book presents this idea of India, never as propaganda, but with subtle explorations into grey areas. ‘Sons of Babur' examines the contribution of individual Mughals and makes subtle forays into questions of right and wrong. There are wonderful moments in the play, lines that show the fratricidal struggle amongst the Mughals, who occupy an important place in Indian history. “While it does not give easy answers, it arrives at a successful set of answers, thereby fulfilling its mission,” he said.

Mr. Ram complimented the debutant writer for his work which “celebrates a great idea, and with a literary quality.”

“Exploring present and future”

In his remarks prior to reading of passages from the book, Mr. Khurshid, Union Minister of Water Resources and Minority Affairs, said there was much in it about what was happening in India today. “It links us with the past, but explores the present, and future,” he explained.

It was a play at several levels and working on the plane of imagination, helps one look beyond reality.

He has used Sufism as a tool that helps break the mould of reality and takes one to a higher level of communication.

The play was performed in translation in Urdu in Delhi, and a Chennai performance would be scheduled soon, Mr. Khurshid said.

“Confluence of streams”

“The rich history of the Mughals who ruled India for many centuries is very significant in the development of modern India,” the Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, said.

It is essential to bear in mind that history cannot be changed, altered, or erased according to the times. “India's history has been a confluence of many streams… India today is a diverse and pluralistic society: multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic, multi-religious and multi-cultural. That is its great strength. It must be preserved,” he said.

Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala who hosted the event at Raj Bhavan's Darbar Hall, suggested that ‘Sons of Babur' must be enacted in schools and colleges, and included as part of the curriculum. The youth should know the history of the nation's freedom struggle and the pre-independence era, and about the kings who ruled.

The Governor also assured that the play would be performed in Chennai in February.

The event was organised in collaboration with the University of Madras' English department on Monday.

(courtesy the Hindu)

Emirati Doctor - Urdu/Hindi poet " Saying it with Poetry

SHARJAH — He is an Emirati. He not only speaks fluent Urdu and Hindi, but also writes
 poetry in these languages. He has published 40 collections (Diwans) and has released
 five audio CDs and three DVDs of his poetry.Saying it with poetry

Dr Zubair Farooq is a medical doctor practising dermatology and venereology in the 
UAE and he took to Urdu-Hindi poetry for the love of these languages.

His talent has been well recognised. He has been bestowed with 13 awards in India
and the UAE, 10 of them in 2010. He has been interviewed on several TV channels in 
India and Pakistan.

For a change, Zubair has also composed music and lent his voice to a CD, Sadaa-e-Dil 
(The Echoes of the Heart), having 13 of his ghazals. The ghazal comprises couplets, each 
standing alone as a complete poem. The CD was a pre-release sellout, purchased 
mostly by Emiratis.

Zubair has set records by publishing 1001 ghazals in one book and 31 books in one year, 2010.

“I think I am influenced by places. That is how I started Urdu and Hindi poetry,” Zubair said.

He said his first Urdu verse happened when he saw the tombs of Tipu Sultan and
 Haider Ali, in Mysore, while travelling from Bangalore to Ooty in 1984 at the age 
of 32. That was his first visit to India. His second verse was written in Bangalore, 
about gardens, in the garden city of Bangalore. They were spontaneous and
 well balanced.

There is an interesting story behind Zubair being an Urdu-Hindi poet. While in Delhi, 
he had a choice to either go to Kashmir or to Ooty through Bangalore.  He decided on
 Ooty cancelling his flight booking for Kashmir. And, that flight was hijacked and brought 
to Dubai.

“If I had taken that flight, I would have been back in Dubai, not able to start my career a
s an Urdu-Hindi poet,” Zubair said.

Zubair fell in love with Urdu while studying at the medical college in Karachi, Pakistan.
 “People’s friendliness and sincerity attracted me to them, and their sweet language, Urdu,” he said.

Zubair has been saying verses in Arabic and English from the age of 11. He has one collection, 
Tears – the Language of Heart, in Arabic and over 1,600 ghazals in English.

For his new CD, he is working on experimenting a fusion of his English ghazals and 
Indian subcontinent classical music using the system of ragas that are sets of pitches
 and small motives for melody construction.

The first phase of Zubair’s career runs from 1985 to 2002 during which he published 
three collections and released two albums with singer Aziz Azmi. In the next six years, 
he concentrated on composing music for two albums, one, Barsaat (Rain) with singer
 Ali Shamsheer, while Zubair himself sang the other, Sadaa-e-Dil. The third phase, his 
most active, began in 2008.

“My present poetry is intense and mature. It reflects my pain and my harsh romantic
 and other experiences. I have now left myself to time, my poetry is about what ever 
comes along,” Zubair said.

Since 2007, Zubair’s ghazals are being sung by Zahoor Ahmad, a disciple of Ghulam Ali. 
He sang for the CD, Aik Arab Jab Urdu Bolay (When an Arab speaks in Urdu), released 
from Kolkata by the city’s Mayor.

In 2011, Zubair plans to release CDs and DVDs of his popular ghazals. Three of his audio 
CDs are ready and are being marketed.

“The future of Urdu poetry is very bright. How can it die when an Arab is so interested in

 it and has achieved so much from it,” Zubair said.

source: Khaleej Times 30Jan2011

English Translations of Urdu Poetry - spanning 300 years upto 19th Century

Urdu Poetry : An Anthology upto 19th Century

Translated and romanised into English by Shah Abdus Salam 

and published by Shah Abdus Salam  Vedam Books, B R Paperback, 2002, x, 325 p

Selections of 20 Celebrated Poets with time periods ranging from 1565 upto 1862

spanning nearly 300 years.

Contents:
Preface.
1. Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah (1565-1611).
2. Valii Mohammad Valii Dakkini (1667-1707).
3. Sadruddin Mohammad Khan Faaiz (1690-1738).
4. Sirajuddin Siraj Aurangabadi (1715-1763).
 5. Shaikh Zahooruddin Haatim (1699-1782).
6. Mohammad Qayaamuddin Qaaim (1725-1793).
7. Mohammad Miir Soz Dihlavi (1720-1799).
8. Mirza Mohammad Rafi Sauda (1713-1781).
9. Khwaja Miir Dard Dihlavi (1720-1784).
10. Miir Mohammad Taqi Miir (1722-1810).
11. Inshaa-ullah Khan Insha (1752-1818).
12. Ghulaam Hamdaani Mus-hafi (1750-1824).
13. Shaikh Qalandar Bukhsh Jurat (1748-1810).
14. Saadat Yaar Khan Rangiin (1757-1835).
15. Shaikh Imaam Bukhsh Naasikh (1771-1838).
16. Khwaja Haider Ali Aatish (1777-1847).
17. Shaikh Mohammad Ibrahiim Zauq (1788-1855).
18. Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghaalib (1797-1869).
19. Hakiim Momin Khaan Momin (1801-1852).
20. Bahadur Shah Zafar (1775-1862).


"This book has been produced in pursuance of the idiomatically exact vocabulary translation of selected Urdu verses. It consists of selection of verses of 20 well known Urdu poets (from 16 century down to the middle of 19 century) representing the Deccan, Delhi and Lucknow School of Poetry. The selections have been made from Ghazals only excluding other forms of verses because Ghazal is the soul and essence of Urdu poetry. The Ghazals included in this volume are carefully selected and different levels of composition of a poet are adequately represented.

The care taken to maintain Verbal Tranlation
Versified translation has been avoided, instead a verbal translation in prose form is given to ensure that the thoughts and visions of the poet are conveyed to the reader to the fullest possible extent. Brief footnotes on the socio-cultural background of the verses and the idiomatic uses of words and phrases are also provided wherever necessary. A brief bio-graphical note is also given in the beginning of each section which will help the reader in relating the poet to his social and literary environment.
The book presents the couplets of Ghazals in Urdu script with its romanized pronunciation along with its English rendering and translation."

Google Translates into URDU

Google Now Translates into Urdu as well.

This is reproduced here for those who may have missed it. It also has a direct context relating to the purpose of this blog and the Facebook page " Urdu To English ". This as you can see below, this is in addition to the first alpha language " Persian '

Source: Re posted from "The Official Google Translation Blog"

            www.googletranslate.blogspot.com

Five more languages on translate.google.com

Thursday, May 13, 2010 | 3:03 PM

Labels: alpha languages

At Google, we are always trying to make information more accessible, whether by adding auto-captioning on YouTube and virtual keyboards to search or by providing free translation of text, websites and documents with Google Translate. In 2009, we announced the addition of our first “alpha” language, Persian, on Google Translate. Today, we are excited to add five more alpha languages: Azerbaijani, Armenian, Basque, Urdu and Georgian — bringing the total number of languages on Google Translate to 57.

These languages are available while still in alpha status. You can expect translations to be less fluent than for our other languages, but they should still help you understand the multilingual web. We are working hard to “graduate” these new language out of alpha status, just as we did some time ago with Persian. You can help us improve translation quality as well. If you notice an incorrect translation, we invite you click "Contribute a better translation". If you are a translator, then you can contribute translation memories with the Translator Toolkit. This helps us build better machine translation systems especially for languages that are not well represented on the web.

Collectively, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Basque, Georgian and Urdu have roughly 100 million speakers. We hope that these speakers can now more easily access the entire multilingual web in their own language. Try translating these and other languages at translate.google.com. Here are some phrases from the new alpha languages to get you started:

Baietz lehenengoan
میں خوش قسمت محسوس کر رہا ہوں 
բախտաւոր եմ զգում
Mən şanslıyam
იღბალს მივენდობი

Good luck my friends, you can now experiment and enjoy till you begin to use it with ease. Until the next post .

Can we participate ? A Tryst with ' History ' .

A casual social evening get-together brings up the subject 

A few months ago, during a conversation with 81 year old C.M. Abdul Raoof Khan, an M.A. in Urdu at the University of Mysore, we happened to casually discuss history. The conversation also happened to include the fine language of Urdu.  He is very passionate about languages Urdu and Farsi (Persian) and it is interesting to note that he acquired his M.A degree in at the mature age of 61.

Sultanat-e-Khudadaad, published in 1937

Coming to the subject of this post, he brought about a very very interesting book that is titled “Sultanat -e- Khudadaad”. It was published in Urdu sometime in 1937 and authored by (Late) M. Mahmud Khan of Bangalore, who was a historian and researcher. This non-fiction book is based on the life of Tippu Sultan, the legendary ruler.

The 1st 2 pages of the 2^nd edition are scanned and placed here:

Make it available in English

This  post seeks to locate an original edition of this book, find out if there are interested individuals to enable the translation of this book into English and have it printed either in hard copy or an e-book edition. As headline of this post says “A Tryst with History”, it is my humble view that in the making of this book, which is rich with history, we can play our role in preserving and making “history” more accessible for future generations.