New Delhi | : Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, Shri Gulam Ali Khatana, today visited the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) at Jasola, New Delhi, in his capacity as a member of the Council’s Governing Body. He was warmly received by Director Mr. Shams Equbal and engaged in a detailed interaction with officials and staff members of the institution.
According to a statement issued here during the interaction, Shri Khatana emphasized the need to view Urdu as a national linguistic heritage rather than a language confined to any particular community. “Urdu is not the language of a community, rather, it is the language of the entire nation,” he asserted, cautioning that associating the language with narrow communal identities has historically hindered its development and recognition.
He further underlined the importance of aligning language education with employment generation. “The Council should ensure that its courses, whether in Urdu, Arabic, or Persian, should be employment-oriented and skill-based,” Khatana suggested. Referring to the Arabic language in particular, he noted that expanding Arabic language proficiency in India could open doors for skilled professionals in the Gulf region, thereby further enhancing India’s remittance inflows from the GCC countries.
Urging the staff of NCPUL to engage with greater dedication, he said, “Your work is of national importance. We must redouble efforts to promote Urdu across the country and foster the creation of original literary and scholarly works.” He emphasized that the Council has a pivotal role to play in strengthening Urdu’s relevance and outreach in modern India.
The NCPUL officials briefed the MP on various schemes, programs, and future plans aimed at promoting Urdu and allied languages. They shared ongoing efforts to increase the Council’s reach and impact through literary events, exhibitions, and workshops across India.
Among the notable officials and staff present at the meeting were Dr. Shama Kausar Yazdani (Assistant Director, Academic), Mr. Muhammad Ahmad (Assistant Director, Administration), Dr. Kalimullah (Research Officer), Mr. Intekhab Ahmad (Research Officer), Mr. Ajmal Saeed (Assistant Education Officer), Dr. Musarrat (Research Officer), Dr. Abdul Bari (Assistant Editor), and Ms. Neelam Rani (JAAO).
The NCPUL, operating under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, is tasked with the promotion and propagation of Urdu, Arabic, and Persian. With a pan-India presence, the Council serves as a key institution in preserving and enriching the linguistic and cultural fabric of the nation.
