Govt drags its feet on making Urdu official language

ISLAMABAD: While certain lobbies have become active against enforcement of Urdu, the federal government has taken steps which are next to nothing to practically make Urdu an official language at all levels in order to Implement August 8 Supreme Court judgment ordering fulfilling the constitutional obligation regarding national language.
The Cabinet Division, which is the relevant body to advance immediate practicable step towards enforcement of Urdu as an official language at all tiers of government, hasn’t even contacted the National Language Authority (officially called National Language Promotion Department (NLPD) for any kind of consultations.
More than 80% of population in Pakistan does not understand English and is thus not only deprived of becoming part of national development, but is also unable to understand official communications.
International bodies like Unesco and all researches establish that best education can be imparted in bilingual or multilingual systems by giving basic importance to the basic language understandable at large.
Not following this basic and natural principle deprives people of learning basics of knowledge and subjects and creative thinking and innovative approach becomes causality.
On the other hand, local as well as international media has launched a full-fledged campaign against possible enforcement of Urdu in Pakistan. Many arguments are being made about practical difficulties that can emerge in case of enforcement of Urdu as official language and some international media outlets have attempted to give the issue an ethnic colouring so to make the whole issue controversial.
The basic impression that is being created is that English would be completely eliminated or marginalized and Urdu will be adopted which will deprive Pakistanis of communicating with the outer world.
According to those working for enforcement of Urdu as official language, English is neither being marginalized nor could it be for being an international language and the language of science and technology.
Language experts argue that making Urdu an official language has nothing to do with marginalizing of English as it will continue to be a very important language subject of all curriculums at all levels. Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik, renowned language expert and former head of NLPD, told The News that in case of adopting Urdu as a national language in the real sense and studying it as the basic language will only further strengthen understanding and expertise of people in English.
He said at present the pathetic standards of use of English by majority of those who can speak or write English are because of the fact that they don’t have grip on the literature of their basic language and thus could never learn English perfectly.
Another argument raised by the local media regarding ‘great’ hurdles and difficulties that nation would face in case of enforcement of Urdu was that majority of IT related projects, software and databases including land record computerization developed by the federal as well as Punjab government will become redundant. However, when this scribe contacted Umar Saif who is the creator of majority of these projects and heads Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) told The News that it is absolutely wrong to say that any of projects of his department would become ‘redundant’ or face any kind of problem in case of enforcement of Urdu.
He explained that land record computerization is already 100% in Urdu language. He said some of the software applications which are in English are for internal use and have nothing to do with the implementation of Supreme Court judgment.
Umar Saif said his department was working translating all laws into Urdu and more than 70% of the work has already been completed. He said his department was also working now to change all government websites in Urdu which will also be completed soon.
Now it is obvious that an English version of all these websites will remain present but only for the ease and understanding of general public the official websites will be in Urdu. Despite this, people opposing Urdu have problem with this as they want only English as medium of communication keeping aside common people understand it or not.
Language experts argue that importance of basic language and understanding and attachment of Pakistani people at large can be well understood from the fact that three media groups of Pakistan namely Geo and Jang Group, DAWN media Group and Express failed to successfully launch an English channel because people feel more comfortable with their national language.
Another issue which was highlighted in an Urdu column was that if Urdu is made official language it will be like forcefully enforcing it on some communities which do not speak Urdu as their mother tongue like Pashto. However, Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik also dispelled this impression and maintained that at present people speaking any language Punjabi, Sindhi, Seraiki, Pushto, Balochi, Hindko not only communicate in Urdu with each other, well understand their national language but also own Urdu as their own language.
He said Ahmad Fraz, Farigh Bokhari, Khatir Ghaznavi, Mohsin Ehsan were all Pushtoon with Pushto as their mother language but were great poets of Urdu. He said when a Pakhtoon Mufti Mehmood became chief minister of KP (then NWFP) he ordered that Urdu will be the official language of the province. He said Mir Ghaus Bukhsh Bazenjo took similar steps in Balochistan. He completely rejected attempts to give ethnic colouring to the enforcement of Urdu saying all these are made-up arguments to frustrate the present process of unifying the nation.
He said that different surveys are presented to show the ratio of people speaking different languages. He said that when during a survey you will ask a question to any citizen which language he speaks, he will respond that he speaks Punjabi, Pushto, Sindhi, Urdu, Balochi, Seraiki etc and the surveyor will calculate the ratio.
He said the real survey will be to ask people across the Pakistan “can you speak or write Urdu” and then to ask “can you speak or write English”. He said that more than 90% of people will be expert of Urdu while a similar percentage will be clueless about English.
Referring to the conspiracy that present move will marginalize the English, he pressed the need to further strengthen the education of English as a language as it has great importance. He said learning English as a language and learning different knowledge in English are two entirely different things and are being confused.
He said that if he reads five English newspapers in the morning he could not get comprehensive overview of local, national and international developments. Even senior journalists writing for different English newspapers used to say that they couldn’t get enough information by reading all English newspapers which they get merely after reading one Urdu newspaper Daily Jang.
It is clear in Article 251 of the constitution that respective provinces can develop their basic syllabus in their regional languages so to more empower their people. According to Unesco website, “Unesco promotes mother tongue-based bilingual or multilingual approaches in education - an important factor for inclusion and quality in education. Research shows this has a positive impact on learning and learning outcomes. The Organization provides normative frameworks for language policy and education and shares good practices in bilingual and multilingual education and mother tongue instruction.”
When attention of these English language advocates is diverted to this basic internationally accepted principle, they come up with the argument that Urdu is not the mother tongue of majority of Pakistanis.
A September 12 BBC story quoted ratio of first language of Pakistanis as 48% Punjabi, 12% Sindhi, 10% Seraiki, 8% Pashto, 8% Urdu and 3% Balochi. However, majority of these speak Urdu at their homes and can well understand Urdu. Not only this, their only way communication with each other right from the childhood is Urdu. Also there is no ban on adopting these languages at a primary level for very basic education of child.
Most importantly, Unesco is pressing a multi-lingual system of education and only giving basic importance to most basic language of the society. Both liberal and religious circles are not happy as one wants promotion of Arabic while the other insists on adopting English at all level. Whereas language experts believe that this is not a religious or ideological issue, it is the issue of ease, education and understanding of common people as per universally accepted principles.
Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik said bureaucracy and establishment are basic hurdles in enforcement of Urdu as national language. He said the rulers are totally surrounded by these elements and they never allow rulers to take independent decisions. He said the basic problem is the will and sincerity of rulers.
There is another objection that Urdu already in use at patwari, tehsildar level, in courts and in police stations is not understandable by the common citizens. Language experts say that it is because Urdu is not given that much importance in our syllabus as a major language. If these terms are made part of our syllabus, everyone one will understand them. Also all terms of all subjects are not understandable by every citizen. Even a person with English as one’s mother language would not be knowing all English words used in all fields of study.
At present Dr Jamal Nasir is head of National Language Authority (NLPD). Dr Jamal is a Pushtoon belonging to tribal areas. On being questioned by The News he said his department was all equipped to enforce Urdu at all official levels. He said that work and research on all aspects is already complete.
He said there was a basic need that a 200 marks paper of Urdu language is immediately made mandatory subject for CSS and all other competitive examinations at federal and provincial levels. He said without such basic steps to train and encourage bureaucracy to learn and implement Urdu for the ease of common people real enforcement of the national language will not be possible.
According to experts that Pakistanis will be disconnected from the world after enforcement of Urdu is baseless and English will remain an important subject and everyone, especially those who want to go abroad for education or employment will learn English with more ease and attain more expertise.
Experts say German, French, Chinese and Japanese only progress as a nation as they taught all knowledge to their children in their national language. English is a minority language even in Europe as of today.
During a recent presser with German Foreign Minister, Pakistani counterpart spoke in English instead of his national language whereas German spoke in his national language. Those teaching lesson of diplomatic sciences to Pakistanis and highlighting Pakistan’s weaker position on many fronts are not only simply unaware of diplomatic principles and basics but also are unaware of importance of Pakistan.
According to experts, when it comes to making women part of the national progress they will argue that progress is impossible if 50% women will not participate in national development as its on their agenda but when it will come to making Urdu as official language instead of English which is depriving 80% Pakistanis to become part of national progress, they will oppose it as it is not on their agenda.
Experts working for enforcement of Urdu say the prime minister just needs to understand that only the opinion given to him by the DMG bureaucrats, his information ministry and other closely associated is not the perfect one and he needs to consult concerned experts, top literary figures, language experts, professors educationists, seasoned politicians, top international education and language experts and consultants, needs to consult Unesco’s officials concerned to reach some conclusion.
If the prime minister will rely on advise of DMG baboos or information ministry, 80% Pakistanis will always remain deprived of becoming part of national progress or to understand official communications or what is being forcefully taught to them and hence will always remain deprive of having any creative ability to perform in fields of science, literature, economy or any other field.