Dr Ammar Rizvi Calls for Concrete Measures to Promote Urdu Among Younger Generations
Lucknow: A key meeting to discuss preparations for the Sixth International Urdu Conference was held on Monday evening at Darul Aman, the residence of Dr Ammar Rizvi, former acting Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and chairman of the conference, in Aliganj, Lucknow.
The meeting was chaired by Khan Mohammad Atif, with participants discussing administrative arrangements and measures to ensure the smooth conduct of the conference.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Rizvi expressed concern over the current status of Urdu and emphasised that verbal assurances alone were insufficient to promote the language. He called for practical initiatives and sustained efforts, beginning at the household level, to encourage children to read and write Urdu and help younger generations remain connected with their linguistic and cultural heritage.
He described Urdu as an important symbol of India’s shared cultural traditions, heritage and communal harmony. He urged people to increase its use in everyday life, education, literary forums and social activities, stressing that its preservation and development were a collective responsibility.
Five committees were proposed to coordinate different aspects of the conference, including the inaugural session, academic seminar, mushaira, cultural programmes and media coordination. The selection of committee members, venues and individuals responsible for administrative arrangements will be decided at the next meeting.
Five international Urdu conferences have previously been organised to promote the language and literature and highlight their educational and cultural significance. The upcoming edition is expected to continue these efforts while strengthening Urdu’s appeal among younger generations.
The meeting was attended by Khan Mohammad Atif, Dr Iqtidar Hussain, Pradeep Kapoor, Dr Haroon Rizvi, Jasan Kazmi, Syed Asim Raza, Sultan Shakir Hashmi, Asif Zaman Rizvi, Dr Moosi Raza, Dr Masihuddin Khan, Dr Sarwat Taqi, Mohammad Salman, Dr Muntazir Qaimi, Dr Ehtisham Khan, Jameel Hasan Naqvi, Abu Shahma Ansari, Atiq Ahmad Ansari, Shahabuddin Khan, Ravi Prakash Yadav, Mirza Furqan Baig and Mirza Aslam Baig, among other prominent academic, literary and social figures.
The information was shared by Abu Shahma Ansari, secretary for publicity and outreach of the All India Minorities Forum for Democracy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=RtToJsBhYBatUrym&v=mOuYNSdhjHA&feature=youtu.be
