Languages

Q1) Explain why Urdu was chosen as the national language of Pakistan. [7]

Urdu was chosen as the national language of Pakistan as it had a strong literacy background. Many poets
such as Ghalib and Allama Iqbal have produced excellent work in poetry. There have been several prose
writers as well such as Deputy Nazir Ahmed who wrote ‘Mirat ul Uroos’ in Urdu. Moreover, Urdu has a
rich religious literature as well and it has important links to Islam since the Quran along with several books
of traditions of the Holy Prophet have been translated into Urdu. Hence, it was chosen as the national
language.

Muslim League at the time of its formation had declared to strive for the protection of Urdu. Sir Syed
Ahmen Khan made a lot of efforts for the promotion and protection of Urdu. Through his literary work, Sir
Syed made Urdu popular among the masses. In fact, his two nation theory was based on the protection of
Urdu. This theory later became the basis of the Pakistan Movement. Therefore, Urdu was chosen as the
national language.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah, though, left the matter to the parliament but desired Urdu to be declared as the
national language. He believed that Urdu would work as a unifying force to unify the four diverse ethnic
groups of Pakistan. Moreover, Urdu was also spoken and understood throughout Pakistan and hence it
was chosen as the national language.

Q2) Explain why regional languages have been promoted by the government since 1947. [7]

Just after the partition of India in 1947, it was Jinnah’s wish to choose Urdu as the national language of
Pakistan. However, the matter was left to the parliament to decide. Meanwhile the government of
Pakistan started promoting the regional languages. Within a few years of independence, the government
formed the literacy board for the promotion of the regional languages. The government wanted the people
speaking these languages to feel naturally a part of Pakistan. The new government of Pakistan showed
through its concern for the regional languages that it did not only inherit the people of the four provinces
but had also adopted their cultures and languages.

Before independence, the Muslim League conveyed its message to the Muslim masses through the
regional languages. Hence, these languages had played a vital role in the unification of the Indian
Muslims and the formation of Pakistan. Moreover, some languages have played an important role in the
history of the region. Pashto literature had an important role in creating opposition to British rule and the
movement for independence. After independence the government declared its moral duty to support and
promote the regional languages.

The regional languages of Pakistan also carry the cultural and traditional heritage of the region. These
languages have played a significant role in the character building of the nations. Neglecting the regional
languages means to serve the Pakistani nation of its past. It was therefore necessary for the government
of Pakistan to promote the regional languages in order to conserve its history and culture.
Q3) Has the promotion of Urdu been more successful than that of any regional language in
Pakistan between 1947 and 1999? Explain your answer. [14]

Answer) Urdu is the national language of Pakistan and is 300 years old. The Urdu Literary Board was
formed just after partition of the sub-continent in 1948 and was chaired by Moulvi Abdul Haq who was
known as Baba e Urdu. All universities of Pakistan offer Post-Graduate classes in Urdu Language and
Literature. Urdu was declared as the National Language of Pakistan in all three Constitutions of 1956,
1962, and 1973. PTV along with many private channels such as Urdu One, ARY, Express, and Dunya,
telecast talk shows, dramas, and songs in Urdu. Radio Pakistan and private radio channels such as FM
100 broadcast many programs in Urdu.

Urdu was declared as the medium of education in all public sector schools and a compulsory subject in
private sector institutes. Urdu seminars are organized inside and outside Pakistan under the supervision
of the government of Pakistan which further promoted the Urdu language. Poets such as Ahmed Faraz,
Ishfaq Ahmed, and Faiz Ahmed Faiz have produced many works in Urdu. Singers such as Noor Jehan
and Mehdi Hassan have sung many songs in Urdu. Newspapers in Urdu like Daily Express and Dunya
are printed and circulated all across in Pakistan.

Punjabi is widely spoken in the province of Punjab. Many stories, novels, and plays have been printed
after the partition in Punjabi. Books on a variety of subjects such as Law, History, and Medicine have
been published in Punjabi. University of Punjab and Sargodha offer Post-graduate classes in Punjabi
language and literature. Radio Pakistan Lahore, Sialkot, Multan along with private radio channels such as
FM95 broadcast folk songs, talk shows, and dramas in Punjabi. Pakistan television along with many
private tv channels such as ‘Apna’ and ‘Punjab Rang’ telecast their programs in Punjabi. The Quran has
also been translated into Pubjabi by Muhammad Ali Faiq. Singers such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and
Abdia Parveen have sung beautiful songs in Punjabi. Poets such as Munir Niazi and Ustad Damn have
produced excellent works in Punjabi.

Sindhi is widely spoken in the province of Sindh. In 1948, the Sindh Literary Board was set up which
printed many books and magazines in Sindhi. Poets such as Shaikh Ayaz and Ibrahim Joyo have
produced excellent works in Sindhi. In 1946, Bazm-e-Talib-ul-Maula was set up to further promote Sindhi.
The Sindhology Department of Jamshoro University and Karachi University offer Post-Graduate Classes
in Sindhi. Many newspapers in Sindhi such as Daily Kavish are printed in Sindhi which has played a
significant role in promoting the language. The Quran has been translated in Sindhi by many scholars
such as Ijaz Ali Pirzada. The medium education in many of the educational institutes in Sindh is Sindhi.
Pakistan television channel along with private tv channels such as Mehran telecast different programmes
in Sindhi. Singers such as Shazia Khushk have sung beautiful songs in Sindhi.

Balochi is widely spoken in the province of Balochistan. The Balochi literary association was formed just
after independence which printed weekly and monthly magazines in Balochi. Radio Pakistan Karachi
began its broadcast in Balochi Language just after partition for the people living on Makran Coast.
Pakistan television channel Quetta along with private tv channel ‘Wash’ telecast programmes and folk
songs in Balochi. Literary persons such as Atta Shad and Gul Khan Nasir have further promoted Balochi
through their workers. The Quran has also been translated into Balochi by Maulana Huzoor Baksh.
Newspapers such as Tawar are also printed in Balochi. Singers like Faiz Mohammad and Sulaiman
Buledi have sung many songs in Balochi.
Pashto is widely spoken in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pashto Academy was established just
after partition which published the first Pashto dictionary. University of Peshawar was established in 1950
which offers Post-Graduate classes in Pashto. Radio Pakistan Peshawar Along with private Pashto radio
channels such as FM 104 broadcast Pashto songs and talk shows. Poets such as Ghani Khan and
Qamar Rahi produced excellent literary works which further promoted the Pashto language. Folk singers
such as Rahim Shah and Kishwar Sultan have sung many songs in Pashto. Pakistan Television along
with private Pashto TV channels such as ‘Khyber TV’ telecast many dramas, songs and talk shows in
Pashto. Pashto newspapers such as Daily Wahdat are also printed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Quran
has also been translated into Pashto by Hafiz Muhammad Idrees.