Urdu Language, Its Role and Status in Pakistan

Abstract

The article deals with a set of questions concerning Urdu – the national language of Pakistan and the fourth language in the world in terms of number of Urdu-speakers. In the history of the Hindustan subcontinent Urdu was set to play a specific role of “a playing-card” in the intricate Anglo–Indo–Muslim political game started over two hundred years ago. Through the years it turned into a conflict between Hindu and Muslim communities of British India, resulting in partition of the country and foundation of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The article highlights landmarks in the evolution of Urdu emphasizing the background of severing the once common language into “Hindu Hindi” and “Muslim Urdu” at the beginning of the 19th century. Several decades later there came to the fore and gathered strength the problem of “Urdu – Hindi” confrontation fueled by the “theory of two nations” and the Indian nationalism with its two scenarios: Muslim and Hindu. Indian Muslim nationalists’ community made efforts to assert Urdu as a marker of Muslim identity. The author provides insight into key elements of the language policy of the establishment and the methods of its actualization through the years of Pakistan existence. Particular emphasis in the article is given to the relation between “official” English and “national” Urdu as well as interrelation of both with local regional languages. Noticeable weakening of connection among Pakistanis as regards to their identity and language (both native and national) strengthens their self-identification as common not to ethnolinguistic community but to the whole nation