09/11/2024
HISTORY OF URDU LANGUAGE
Origins
Urdu originated in the 12th century in the Delhi region of north India. It was influenced by Arabic, Persian, and Turkish, and was based on the languages spoken in the areas.
Development
Urdu developed further during the Delhi Sultanate (1206ā1526) and the Mughal Empire (1526ā1858). The first major Urdu poet was Amir Khusrau (Persian 1253ā1325), who wrote couplets and riddles in the new language.
Official language
In 1837, Urdu became an official language of the British East India Company, replacing Persian.
National language
After Pakistan was created in 1947, Urdu became the National language of the new country.
Writing system
Urdu is written in the Perso-Arabic alphabet, while Hindi is written in the Devanagari alphabet.
Speakers
Urdu is spoken in many countries, including India, Pakistan, Britain, Canada, and the USA, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Afghanistan etc. There are more Urdu speakers in India than in Pakistan.
Literary movements
Some literary movements in Urdu include the Progressive Writers Movement, Modernism, Halqa e Arbab e Zauq, Post-modernism, and Theatre of the Absurd.
Iqbal day is organized and celebrated on 9 November every year in all the provinces as a tribute to Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the "Poet of the East". Iqbal was born on 9 November 1877 in Sialkot, within the Punjab Province of British India (now in Pakistan). He died on 21 April 1938 in Lahore, Punjab, British India.