Neither Hindi belongs to Hindus, nor Urdu to Muslims: Javed Akhtar

The persisting misconception that Hindi belongs to Hindus and Urdu to Muslims was addressed by renowned writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar, who broke it down, saying that it is the land that determines the language, not the religion.

"Hindi and Urdu were equals until about 200 years ago when, for political reasons, they were separated," Akhtar stated during the event. He attributed the division to British colonial tactics, intending to create a cultural distinction in north India.

The writer, known for his outspoken cultural commentary, highlighted that both languages share a common ancestry and were indistinguishable in poetry until the colonial era.

Addressing the misconception that Urdu is solely a Muslim language, Akhtar challenged the audience by pointing out its presence among the Bengali population in East Pakistan and the lack of Urdu in Arab nations and Central Asia. "True, we were split 70 years ago, but it was all Hindustan, was it not?" he added, underlining the shared linguistic heritage that transcends religious boundaries.

Akhtar also debunked the notion that Hindi exclusively belongs to Hindus, citing the linguistic diversity in Tamil Nadu. "All this is nonsense. Languages cannot belong to a religion. They belong to regions," he asserted, emphasizing that language, unlike land, cannot be divided.

The lyricist criticized the custodians of culture for not doing enough to preserve and promote Urdu. He argued that blaming governments for the decline of the Urdu script is unfair, as the responsibility lies with those who consider themselves the guardians of their heritage.

Akhtar delved into linguistic nuances, explaining that the adoption of certain words stems from the absence of logical substitutes. He expressed his commitment to writing in Hindustani for Hindustan, not restricting his work to Urdu or Hindi speakers. "Why am I writing in Hindustani? Because I am writing for Hindustan," he emphasized.