Topic: Languages
Topic: Languages
Topic: Languages
Introduction:
National Language:
Urdu: 8%
Regional Languages:
• Punjabi 48%
• Pashto 13%
• Sindhi 12%
• Balochi 3%
• Seraiki 10%
• Acceptance of single language as the “national language” helps to bring about uniformity.
• Cultural identity
• A common language increases understanding and helps build a shared understanding of what a
nation believes in.
• Many groups came to sub-continent and they brought their own languages.
• Effective rulers appreciated the need to foster an understanding of art and literature and so it is
not surprising that these new languages took root and spread.
• During Mughal period, they made their language the official language.
Full Ans} First of all, whenever any group came to rule the Sub-continent they brought with them their
own languages. Sub- continent was area which was ruled by different rulers at different times like by
Arabic, Turkish and British. Therefore, these ruling groups brought their own languages which were
adopted by the local people, increasing the number of languages in India.
Moreover, the effective rulers appreciated the need to foster an understanding of art and literature and
language is very important part of literature. Therefore, due to their appreciation it is not surprising
that their languages took root and spread rapidly resulting in more languages in sub-continent.
Furthermore, whenever there was any new ruler they usually made their languages official. During the
Mughal period, Persian was the official language in the court of Delhi. Most books were written in
Persian and it was adopted by poets, Scholars, such as Amir Khusrua. Shah Waliullah’s translated Quran
from Arabic into Persian and many Sanskrit books were also translated into Persian. When British came
into India they made English the official language in 1843. Consequently, the use of these languages in
offices and administration helped to spread the language in locals and in day to day communication
resulting in addition to other languages.
National Language:
Urdu:
Q Why did Pakistan choose Urdu as its national language? [7] (N2001/P1/1b)
Q Why was Urdu chosen as the national language of Pakistan? [7] (J2004/P1/4b)
Q Explain why Urdu was chosen as the national language of Pakistan in 1947. [7] (J2008/P1/1b)
Q Why did Pakistan choose Urdu as its national language? [7] (N2005/P1/2b)
Q. Explain the choice of Urdu in 1947 as the national language of Pakistan. [7] (N2011/P1/1b)
Answer on Book pg 47
Ans) One of the reasons why Urdu became the national language in Pakistan is its long history. It was
widely used in Mughal period and dates back as far as the Sultans of Delhi. In its early stages it was used
by the Muslim armies and became widely spoken and understood in many parts of subcontinent. So it
was natural that such a well- known and established language would be chosen.
Another reason for Urdu being chosen was its high status. Some of the finest early poets, such as Amir
Khusrou wrote in Urdu and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s school at Aligarh became Centre of the Urdu study.
Many religious books, including Quran were translated into Urdu. So it was considered important
languages with a rich literary tradition.
Perhaps, the major reason for Urdu being chosen was the fact that it was so closely associated with the
Pakistan Movement. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan supported it and the Muslim League was formed not only to
defend Muslim interests, but also protect Urdu. The Quid – e- Azam was particularly keen to promote
Urdu as he saw it as a unifying force. Since Pakistan was a new country, it was very appropriate to pick a
language which played a part in unifying Muslims.
Q. How successful were the attempts to develop Urdu after partition? [14]
Or
Q. How successful was the promotion of Urdu language in Pakistan?[14]
L3: Success
L5 judgement
Ans) There were many successful attempts to develop Urdu after the partition as it became national
language and Jinnah was keen to promote Urdu. He considered it as a unifying force in new country
“Pakistan”. He visited different provinces to develop sense of nationalism by indicating importance of
Urdu. So due to efforts by Jinnah, Urdu developed rapidly.
Moreover, a dictionary of office term in Urdu was published and steps had been taken to move away
from English as the language of administration. This resulted in the popularity of Urdu within Pakistan
and was widely understood by people which showed its successful development.
Besides that, Urdu was also medium for T.V and radio programs. Many of Urdu plays and films were
popular in the country which enhanced the understanding of Urdu throughout the country and it was
liked by all the provinces showing successful step towards its development.
Furthermore, Urdu was also rich in literature and novels, poetry and magazines were widely published in
Urdu. Many poets and writers like Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Hafiz Jalandhari also worked to promote Urdu by
writing in it. As a result Number of Urdu speaking and Urdu reading people increased which further
allowed Urdu to develop successfully after the partition.
However, there were some hurdles in the way of its development after the partition.
First of all, some hurdles can be seen towards the development of Urdu after partition in 1947, when
Bengalis demanded Bengali to be the national language, while west Pakistani’s wanted Urdu to be the
national language and Jinnah made Urdu as the national language. This conflict remained between both
the wings of Pakistan as language controversy and in 1952 there were a lot of riots and strikes in Dhaka.
This showed huge resentment against Urdu causing hurdles in the way of its development.
Secondly, language controversy along with other issues caused the civil war in East Pakistan in 1971 and
eventually Bangladesh was established. So it can be said that due to language conflict, development of
Urdu was to some extent reduced.
Lastly, although Urdu was accepted as a state language but it was spoken by only 8% of population
which indicated that little proportion of people talked in Urdu in Pakistan so how such a language could
be enhanced which was not highly adopted by large number of population. Hence, less usage of Urdu
hindered the development of Urdu after partition.
According to me,
Development of regional languages:
Punjabi
Sindhi
Pushto
Balochi
Q. Why have regional languages been promoted by the government of Pakistan since 1947?
[Oct/Nov2009] [May/June 2013]
Q. Why have regional languages been promoted by the government of Pakistan since 1947? [7[
L2’s
Full answer) First of all, the regional languages are promoted by the government of Pakistan as
government wanted these languages to be alive and people in different areas of Pakistan wanted their
own language to be developed along with one national language. Therefore these regional languages
were promoted to keep the regional identity for example Sindhi literary board was setup in 1948 to
promote Sindhi.
Moreover, historical background of regional languages also encouraged the government to promote
them like Pashto literature played an important part in creation opposition to British rule and in the
movement of Pakistan. Hence, it was developed by the Government of Pakistan with establishment of
Peshawar University within three years of independence and with an academy for promotion of Pashto
literature.
With that, there were many languages in different areas of Pakistan and government made Urdu as an
official language which would cause dissatisfaction if the local languages were ignored. So Pakistan’s
government gave equal importance to these languages and took important steps to enhance them like
government had ensured Punjabi’s development by giving support to the institutions which were
teaching it as a subject like the Punjab University is teaching Punjabi as a subject up to M.A level.
Extra L2:
Balochi had little development before 1947 and its literature was in decline. However the government
felt that it should be kept alive and not lost forever. Hence the language was promoted.
Q. How did government of Pakistan try to develop Punjabi/ Sindhi/ Pashto and Balochi? [7]
• Punjabi
• Sindhi
• Pashto
• Balochi
Punjabi:
• Books and plays were written in Punjabi and films were also produced in the same language
which was liked by a large number of populations ….. Proving it developed or successful.
• Sufi poets Like Bulhe Shah along with young poets like Munir Niazi are the major exponents
of Punjabi language. They did poetry in the same language and due their efforts Punjabi
language was develop.
• It is taught up to M.A level at the university of Punjab… proving it successful/ so it proves
that the Punjabi is most developed language.
2. Sindhi:
• Sindhi literary board was setup which printed many books in Sindhi language resulting in it’s
develop.
• Sarmast academy in the memory of Sachal Sarmast was built which promoted Sindhi literature
and made this language alive forever.
• Sindhiology department at Jamshoro was established which archived books and manuscript
history of Sindhi.
• In 1954, Bazm-e- Talib- Ul- Muala have been written on Sindhi folk literature… which further
helped to develop this language.
3. Balochi:
Punjabi:
Punjabi was most famous and widely spoken regional language in Punjab. There were many plays and
songs written and produced in Punjabi language and till 1970 there were a lot of Punjabi films which
were liked by a large number of population. These plays, songs and films contributed in its popularity,
proving it most developed regional language.
Moreover, different sufi poets like Sultan Bahu and Baba Farid Ganjshakar wrote their work in Punjabi.
Bulhe Shah composed melodious Kafis which were commonly sung to this day. The young poets like
Munir Niazi, Ahmed Rahi and Ustad Daman with their many younger followers are the major exponents
of a new wave of Punjabi writing and they seem to be moving towards a quick change in the traditional
patterns of Punjabi literature. Therefore, due to their efforts Punjabi development more rapidly and
became the most developed regional language e of Pakistan.
With that, in Punjab, students in higher secondary school can choose Punjabi as an elective subject.
Books on a wide variety of academic subjects such as Law, Medicine, history and Philosophy have been
published in language now it is taught up to M.A level at the University of Punjab which had established
its Punjabi department in 1970. Therefore all these efforts helped to advance the Punjabi language and
proving it most successful regional language of Pakistan.
Sindhi:
In 1948, Sindhi literary board was setup and this had printed many books and magazines in Sindhi by
different Sindhi authors like Pir Ali Muhammad Rashidi which resulted in the development of Sindhi and
made Sindhi literature available to large number of people in the forms of books proving it a developed
language.
Moreover, Sarmast academy had been establishes in the memory of Sachal Sarmast. This academy not
only promoted the Sindhi literature but it also put the language on the modern lines which showed its
development and proving it a successful regional language.
Besides that, Sindhiology department had been established at University of Jamshoro which was first
research institution. It’s main objective was to develop facility to archive books and manuscript history
and culture of Sindhi which promoted the Sindhi language and helped to save Sindhi literature making
Sindhi the most developed regional language.
Balochi:
Although Balochi was not an established language even than the Balochi literary association was set up
and now magazines and books are also published in the same language. This helped to increase its
influence among the population of Sindh and further increased the chances of its development
throughout the Pakistan.
Moreover, many poets in which most noticeable are Atta Shad and Ishaq Shamin and writers like Gul
Khan Nazir and Azad Jamal also worked for the promotion of Balochi language by writing poems in
Balochi which helped to promote this language. Hence it became the most developed regional
language/Hence it became most successful regional language of Pakistan.
T.V and radio programs have promoted the Balochi language in Pakistan. First radio Pakistan Karachi
began to broadcasts in Balochi and later on Quetta T.V station was also setup which highlighted this
language throughout the Pakistan making it most developed language/most successful language.
2-11- 2020
Q. How has government of Pakistan promoted the development of Pashto since 1947? [7]
Within three years of independence, Peshawar University was established and Pashto language
academy was also setup in 1954. This academy was initially headed by Maulana Abdul Qadir, a well-
known scholar of Pashto. Thus by the efforts of Pakistan government this academy has done
tremendous services towards the promotion of Pashto language and literature.
With that, Pasto academy also prepared first Pashto dictionary which was accepted by all the literary
circles. Hence this dictionary helped to understand the Pashto language/ It increased the understanding
of Pashto. As a result, Pashto language started to develop rapidly.
Besides that, in Peshawar University post graduate classes in Pashto literature have been introduced
which helped to save its literature and it is taught as a subject in the University. So all these steps taken
by Pakistan’s government helped language to be more enhanced and developed.
Q.“Punjabi was most developed regional language between 1947-1999” Do you agree? Explain your
answer? [14]
L3: Punjabi
L5: Judgement
Ans) Punjabi was most famous and widely spoken regional language in Punjab. There were many plays
and songs written and produced in Punjabi language and till 1970 there was a large number of Punjabi
films which were liked by a large number of population. These plays, songs and films contributed in its
popularity, proving it most developed regional language.
Moreover, the main work in Punjabi was by different Sufi poets Bulhe – Shah, Sultan Bahu and Baba
Farid Ganjshakar. The young poets also contributed in the development of this language like Muneer
Niazi and Ahmed Rahi. As a result, due to efforts of all old and new poets Punjabi was promoted. Hence,
Punjabi became most developed regional language.
With that, in Punjab, students in Higher secondary school can choose Punjabi as an elective subject and
now it is taught up to M.A level at the University of Punjab which had established its Punjabi
department in 1970. Therefore all these efforts helped to advance the Punjabi language proving it most
successful regional language of Pakistan.
Sindhi literary board was setup and this had printed many books and magazines in Sindhi by different
Sindhi authors like Pir Ali Muhammad Rashidi which resulted in the development of Sindhi and made
Sindhi literature available to large number of people in the forms of books proving it a developed
language.
Moreover, Sarmast academy had been establishes in the memory of Sachal Sarmast. This academy not
only promoted the Sindhi literature but it also put the language on the modern lines which showed its
development and proving it a successful regional language.
Although Balochi was not an established language even than the Balochi literary association was set up
and now magazines and books are also published in the same language. This helped to increase its
influence among the population of Sindh and further increased the chances of its development
throughout the Pakistan.
With that, Pasto academy also prepared first Pashto dictionary which was accepted by all the literary
circles. Hence this dictionary helped to understand the Pashto language/ It increased the understanding
of Pashto. As a result, Pashto language started to develop rapidly.
Q. Why have regional languages been promoted by the government of Pakistan since 1947? [7]
First of all, Balochi was brought by tribes which migrated from North- West Iran. They were nomadic
people who rarely settled in any one place for long periods of time. Therefore, due to their constant
movement there was little development of Balochi literature.
Moreover, Balochi was not the medium of instruction in institutes and in governmental bodies so there
was little use of this language even in Balochistan province. Thus, less use of language hindered the
development of Balochi literature on larger scale.
Besides that, Baloch literature was not properly publishes. There were very few books or magazines
published in Balochi even Balochi Gazetteer was published in English. As a result, very little Balochi
development can be seen in Balochi language/literature/