Urdu declined in script but up in terms of its word usage: Sohail Warsi

Speakers present at the press conference on second Bhendi Bazaar Urdu Festival stated that the language had a bright future, contrary to the perception that it was on the decline. The press conference was held on Tuesday at the Press Club of Mumbai.

When asked despite Urdu's influence in Bollywood and most of the performers of Bhendi Bazaar being non-Muslims it still is stated to be in the decline, they said that language's future is bright. Among the speakers were Indira Naik and Pooja Gaitonde, qawalli singers, Radhika Sood Nayak from Kabir Festival, Smita Bellur, Sufi singer, and Sohail Warsi, script writer among others.

Indira Naik, singer, said, "There is a bright opportunity for the language as a large number of people are connecting through internet and other means. It is wrong to think that it is on decline."

She added: "Everything has a phase. Like classical music too had a phase."

Bellur said, "A lot of youngsters connect to Sufism, idea of formless God and are attracted to soulful music. They are in great numbers and are attracted to it. They will be bringing up the language."

Warsi said that Urdu's decline is of its script but not the words. "The script has certainly declined but not the words. A large number of people still use a lot of Urdu words."

Farid Khan, chairman of the programme committee of Bhendi Bazaar Urdu Festival, said that as per BMC records, the number of Urdu schools they run is second highest, and looking at the dropout rate in schools of other medium, they might be at the top next year.