Neglect by powers-that-be has hurt Urdu: Rana

Bhopal, Jan 31 (UNI) Urdu poet Munawwar Rana feels that neglect by those at the apex of power had not only pushed the language into the background but also hurt the sweet tongue's soul.

''The institutes set up to promote Urdu have transformed into shops promoting those at their helm. Actually, the concept of forming a separate Urdu academy is itself wrong. Hindi and Urdu were born in India and both languages have generously accepted words from one another,'' Rana -- who was in this City of Lakes to attend a programme -- told UNI today.

Pointing out that the Urdu dictionary had merely 112 original words, he added that the rest were borrowed from Hindi and other tongues.

''Urdu and Hindi should be monitored by a single institute as the languages should not be viewed separately. Politics has led to Urdu being described as a certain religion's tongue but the reality is that it is spoken only in India and Pakistan. A language is like a thatched roof that need many hands to build,'' Rana said.

Alleging that even the limited financial assistance -- doled out to institutes supposedly promoting Urdu -- went unutilised, he added that he was extremely concerned over the declining importance of relations. Rana gives a prominent place to life's darker shades and humane relations with the aged in his works.

''The present conditions make it seem as if India will sooner or later witness a spurt in homes for the aged,'' he warned.

One of Rana's ghazals is on the importance of the mother.

'Meri khwaish hai ki main phir se farishta ho jaun Ma se is tarah lipat jaun ki bachcha ho jaun Bheje gaye farishtey hamare bachao ko Jab hadsaat ma ki dua se ulajh padey Tere daman mein sitarey hain toh honge i falak Mujhko apni ma ki maili odni achhi lagti hai...' UNI SD-AC 1758