'Read And Buy Urdu Newspaper' campaign succeeds in Delhi: Will you subscribe an Urdu paper now?

Activists selling Urdu paper to policeman Subash Chand

It was heartening to see the recent campaign in Delhi that aimed at popularizing Urdu newspapers and urging readers to buy them.

Almost 1,500-2,000 Urdu newspapers were sold at the spot in a matter of few hours. This is a positive step as it shows activism on part of the Urdu-speaking populace.

Rather than keeping expectations from the governments, it's the job of the speakers of a language to take care of it. That Urdu lovers hit the street is definitely a welcome sign.

Daily Sahafat's Mohammad Anjum reported that the campaign was launched at the gate of Jama Masjid. The organisation members marched to Matia Mahal and adjoining areas for the 'Akhbar Faroshi Tehreek'.

Clearly, the success of this drive shows that there is no lack of readers if the newspapers have quality and content. Activists representing various fields had gathered after reciting 'fatiha' at the grave of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, and began approaching traders and citizens, urging them to buy the Urdu newspapers.

The Urdu lovers were asked to support these papers and make it a habit to buy papers rather than borrow it from a neighbour or a shop owner. The activists stressed on the fact that Urdu papers' existence is vital, as they raise issues concerning Muslim population apart from creating awareness among minorities.

International Human Rights Protection Association (IHRPA) head Shameem Ahmad, Head of Department (Urdu) Dayal Singh College Dr Maula Bakhsh, editor Andaleeb daily M Mustaqeem Khan, poet Shoaib Raza Fatmi, Dr MR Qasmi, Sahafat bureau chief Dr Mumtaz Alam Rizvi, journalists representing Akhbar-e-Nau, Hamara Samaj were part of the drive.

Earlier, activists have sold Urdu papers like Azad Hind and Akhbar-e-Mashriq in similar fashion in Muslim pockets in Kolkata in the past. The fact that governments don't give enough attention to either civic issues or other problems that are written about in Urdu papers should be a cause of concern, said speakers.

The participants in the drive urged people to buy Urdu papers so that it sends a clear message to Centre and State governments that the language is alive. The fact is that over the years, Urdu journalism has made fast strides in India, particularly, since late 90s.

After the launch of Roznama Sahara, the multi-edition Sahafat, Aag, new papers in Hyderabad and J&K, Urdu newspapers are now visible though they aren't reaching readers in far-flung colonies and new areas due to lack of proper distribution network.

Now the papers are attractive and also carry kids' and women's sections though there is still lack of adequate cartoon strips. Children are drawn towards papers due to cartoons and editors of the Urdu papers must realise this important aspect.


For years Urdu papers have focused on politics and neglected children. Few papers have daily cartoon strips. They must strike chord with the young generation, particularly, teenagers and kids. Besides, proper attention should be given to on-spot reporting, career guidance, sports and women's issues.

Most Urdu papers are now on the internet and this also shows the change sweeping across Urdu journalism in India. If you are a Urdu speaker, subscribe an Urdu paper. This will be your biggest service to your mother tongue. Will you do that?

[Photo courtesy Urdu daily Sahafat, Delhi]

Sindhi newspapers gasping for breath in India

Sindhi daily Hindu edited by Harish Varyani

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

I have a copy of 'Hindu', a Sindhi daily in my hands. It's after a long time that I am trying to read a Sindhi newspaper

While its famous English namesake, 'The Hindu' is one of the leading newspapers in the country, this Sindhi newspaper which also has a rich history is facing a tough challenge.

'Hindu' is a multi-edition Sindhi newspaper. It is being published from the pre-partition era and is amongst the few Sindhi papers that have survived in the 21st century.

But, most other Sindhi publications are facing an existential crisis. Sindhi is not taught as third language in schools except in some cities in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharastra.

As Sindhis aren't concentrated in any state unlike speakers of Kannada, Telugu, Punjabi or Tamil, it doesn't enjoy state patronage which other languages get. Quite similar to the problems of Urdu, but circulation of Sindhi papers has seen an unusually sharp decline in recent years.

There are half-a-dozen Sindhi newspapers published from Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Ajmer, the Sindhi-dominated Ulhas Nagar town, Bhopal, and a couple of other towns, there numbers are few. Despite attempts by certain individuals to exhort Sindhi youths to take interest in their mother tongue, the situation hasn't improved.

In the 80s, the movement to write Sindhi in devanagri script had gained momentum. To an extent it was understandable, as Sindhis wanted their language to survive in India. While the spoken language remains alive, the literature has suffered in process. 

Writers rue that the vocabulary is getting lost and a strange 'mixture zabaan' has emerged. In recent years, Sindhi academies, organisations and trusts have tried hard to organise Sindhi mushairas, Kavi Goshthis, Cultural events and pumped money to publish Sindhi books, but the lack of interest shown by young generation has hampered the efforts.

Editorial on political drama in Karnataka

Till early 90s, I often got to see Sindhi newspapers in a few public reading rooms and in Sindhi households. But now you won't get a copy except perhaps at the newspaper office or a Sindhi academy, except in Ulhas Nagar and two-three other pockets where few bookshops keep the papers.

When Sindhi daily, Farz, was a mass circulated daily, I often saw it. As it is quite similar to Urdu, a person who knows the Perso-Arabic script can read Sindhi, though it requires some extra effort and attention.

After the death of the Farz' publisher, Rajesh Udhwani 'Guide', his son--Ravi Anand Udhwani, told me that there were few readers now and it was getting increasingly difficult to bring out the paper.

I am not aware of the situation in Pakistan where Sindhi does seem to flourish due to state-support and concentration of Sindhi speakers in the Sindh province.

However, the situation in India, is really bad and there is little hope of a revival for the Sindhi publications. A few committed persons are still trying to run classes and promote the language. While Sindhis, a community that has a sharp trading acumen, has seen collective success and achieved prosperity, the loss of the language is something that they should ponder upon.

I still have a thick Sindhi dictionary, which was gifted to me by my neighbours when I was a kid. They also tried to teach me the basics of the language. Since then I haven't seen any newspaper or periodical of the language in a Sindhi household though I have umpteen friends of the my community.

An elderly Sindhi friend was livid when he told me about the disinterest of young generation towards learning their 'mother tongue'. It takes centuries for languages to take shape and get popular. And, then to see the decline!

Hidden Heritage: Coming across a Karbala in a town near Lucknow

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

Exploring parts of Walled cities and old areas in towns has been a passion for me since my childhood.

I visited Mohan [pronounced Mohaan], a prominent town of Awadh, which now falls in Unnao district, during a recent visit.

Though most of the people whom I had asked about the town couldn't tell me about any famous structure or building known for its architecture in the town, I still decided to explore the town. The visit proved fruitful.

Barely a few hundred metres inside this town, I could spot the huge minaret. Soon the domes were also visible. Locals told me that it was the 'Karbala of Mohan'.

Though I have been to some Shia shrines, particularly, Imambadas in Lucknow, the imposing structure in the small town that has a population of barely 15,000 came as a surprise.

The ancient structure that has an Imambada is not generally frequented by people. Not many outside the town are aware of the structure.

The local residents also don't seem to realise that it much bigger [and architecturally refined] than similar buildings in many of the major cities including Muslim centres.

I went inside and found a small staircase leading to the top of the minar. Rarely people venture up and thus the staircase had several lizards, bats and birds but I managed to climb to the top.

It was a stunning bird's eye view from there. Amidst the vast green expanse and the mango orchards, the entire small town was clearly visible from the top.

Almost every City and town has a place where Shias (and also Sunnis and Hindus) commemorate the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Husain during the Islamic month of Muharram.

Way to minaret's top

Often the Karbalas are by the side of a pond or river where the 'tazia' [replica of the Imam's rauza] are immersed on Yaum-e-Ashurah. In small towns in UP, there are umpteen such structures.

The photograph on the top left shows the 'Karbala'. You can gauge the height of the minaret by comparing it with the bus parked by its side. Residents said that it was constructed on the lines of a 'rauza' in Iraq.

However, such architectural heritage lies unattended, unexplored and even unknown. As almost 80% of Muslim gentry from these towns had migrated after independence, the structure didn't have adequate upkeep.

View from the top of the minaret.

Mostly poor Muslims remained in the towns. The abolition of Zamindars had also hit the Muslims in the Indo-Gangetic belt.

For a long time, people didn't have money and resources to run their own households let alone take care of such structures.

Mohan has a substantial Shia population and they run madarsas as well. Of late, it seems the situation has improved a bit.

I found some other unique structures which have architectural and historical importance. About them, I might write in later posts.

I had chat with owners and customers at the eateries at the gate of the 'Karbala'.

A middle aged man, who introduced me as Pandit Ji, and runs the pan shop, also gave me some information. Unfortunately, I couldn't meet the caretaker of the shrine.

Sorry, I don't need a Muslim leadership in India, non-Muslim politicians do a better job

Even those who believed in the concept of Muslim (political) leadership and thought that it exists in India should have realised that this is nothing less than a myth.

Two recent incidents including the murder of a minor Muslim girl in a police station in Lakhimpur Kheri and the firing on Muslim villagers in Bihar's Forbesganj has exposed the so-called Muslim leadership.

Bihar has no dearth of Muslim leaders ranging from NCP's Tariq Anwar to Congress' Shakil Ahmad and Maulana Asrarul Haq Qasmi, who represents Kishanganj constituency in the Parliament. All of them remained silent though they represent opposition parties in the state.

Had they taken to streets or at least spoken on the issue, it would have raised their stature and their parties would also have got benefited. One could understand the predicament of JDU's Muslim leader or BJP's Shahnawaz Khan who also hails form Bihar, but who stopped the Muslim MPs, MLAs, MLCs et al.

Politicians love to politicise issues, even non-issues. So what stopped Ghani Khan Chaudhary's politican successor, Mausam Benazir Noor, the young MP from neighbouring West Bengal, to take up the issue. In fact, no Muslim leader in the country worth his salt felt for the victims.

It was Ram Vilas Paswan who went to Delhi and staged a 'dharna', then apprised the Prime Minister about the issue and also asked Rahul Gandhi to visit Araria district to take a stock of the situation. Still, the Muslim leadership kept mum.

While Mahesh Bhatt went to Patna to urge Nitish Kumar to take action and later also reached Delhi, Muslim politicians' shameless silence showed their character. Muslim leaders in Delhi also didn't speak on the issue. Had it not been Paswan, Bhatt, a few activists and websites, particularly, http://www.twocircles.net/, the issue wouldn't have reached as far.

I am sorry to say but Maulana Asrarul Haq Qasmi has been a letdown. The elderly politician puts all energy in writing columns in Urdu papers rather than roaring in the parliament, if not on the streets. The Muslim social groups and other organisations were also indifferent.

In neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, a minor Muslim girl* was allegedly killed on the premises of police station. Though elections are drawing nearer and UP has seen a spurt in launch of new Muslim parties, there was absolute silence.

Jamat-e-Islami's Welfare Party, Dr Ayub's Peace Party, Ulema Council and other similar groups seemed to have forgotten even issuing statements. Even when most of the politicial parties and leaders [including BJP's firebrand leaders] had visited Lakhimpur Kheri, not a single delegation from any of these 'Muslim' parties visited the victim's family.

So what stopped them? Simply, they are not concerned. I don't go by the argument that many parties are propped up to divide the so-called Muslim vote. It is a mystery why none of these parties or leaders speak up when there is dire need for them to do so.

In the past also, we have seen that either it is on ideological ground or on the street, it is not the Muslim leaders who have taken up the cause of Muslims. So why this need for a Muslim leadership. It is a dangerous concept. We know as we have suffered it.

Time and again, Muslim voters have been cheated due to these so-called Muslim politicians. If there is a Muslim leadership, there should also be a Hindu leadership for Hindus. What is important that Muslim citizens understand that they must play an active part in the society and raise issues, not concerning Muslims alone, but others also.

With almost 60 Muslim MPs in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, lot of issues pertaining to the community should have been redressed and resolved easily, but the reality is that this doesn't happen. In the last six decades Muslim electorate has been through all and must wisen up now.

Just that Congress can't keep Muslims hostage by instilling the sense of BJP, these Muslim politicians should also be dumped as they are simply wasting their positions. It is always better to send pro-active non-Muslim leaders to legislatures.

Call me a cynic or whatever, that's the truth. If there are any exceptions, please tell  me. Meanwhile, the moral is that Muslim voters should better avoid voting for such politicians, who just have Muslim-sounding names, as in reality they have neither vision nor voice.

[* The girl who was found dead in police station in Lakhimpur belonged to a Muslim family. Her name was Razia though in order to protect her identity, section of media persons changed the name to Sonam as she was a minor]

Clock Towers in India: The famous Chaubara in Bidar [Karnataka]

The Chaubara structure in Bidar (Karnataka)

Bidar is a historic town in Southern India and has a host of historical monuments. 

Though located in Karnataka, the district borders Andhra Pradesh and is quite close to Maharashtra.

As a result, Urdu, Marathi and Kannada are the major languages spoken here. It has been ruled by Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, then Hasan Gangu and Bahmani Sultans until it became a dominion of the Asif Jahi dynasty--under the Nizam of Hyderabad--till independence.

The chaubara is basically a watch tower cum clock tower. In olden days, from its top one could get a view of the entire town. The imposing cylindrical tower in the heart of the town attracts the new comes to the town. More so, as it is not much known outside.

Though Bidar has no dearth of historical monuments including the fort and the great madarsa established by Mahmood Gawan [the Mughal governor of Bijapur during Humayun's reign], it is still not a major tourist destination. Though there have been some efforts to clear encroachments around, no serious step has been taken to preserve this unique structure as yet.

Located just around 120 km from Hyderabad, Bidar's language also has a Deccani influence. The place is also well-known for the Bidri work. The fort was constructed in 1428 by Ahmad Wali who named it Ahmadabad-Bidar Fort.

For me right now it is the Chaubara [also written as Choubara] for which I have written the post. I have already mentioned by fascination about the clock towers of  unique shapes and sizes in India. But it is not just the clock tower, you must visit Bidar for the monuments that dot this ancient city.

Read my earlier post Clock Towers of Awadh (UP) And Father Built Clock Tower in Son's Memory