I love Urdu, the language, because in my opinion the best poetry is written in this language.

Broadly we can never separate Hindi from Urdu and vice versa – the two languages are so much intermingled and overlapping, except the script - the truth is after 1947, huge number of Indians (which includes both the communities) have associated Urdu language with Muslims.

This thought has not only harmed the Urdu language but the Indian culture.

The sweetness, that should have been - and which was earlier, when India had the spoken language, termed as Hindustani Zubaan – is now lost.

I know not many will support my view, so leave it at that.

My guru and mentor the legend, Khushwant Singh was also very fond of Urdu. 

He was born in an age when it was obvious.

He has translated many Urdu poets, some of the very popular Ghazals and Nazms from Urdu to English.

Here I am sharing one, composed by the great Mirza Asadullah Beg Khan commonly known as Mirza Ghalib – 

Mehrbaan hokey bulaalo mujhey chaaho jis vaqt

Main gayaa vaqt naheen hoon ki phir aa bhee na sakoon

(Have mercy and send for me

any time you so desire;

Time gone is forever gone it’s true – I

am not time, I can always return to you.)

(Top Photo Courtesy: www.kashmirica.com, with thanks)