Daily Times

I wonder how an individual can write several books at a time. Professor Dr. Haroon ur Rasheed Tabassum is one such person who does this feat as five books were received only recently from him titled ‘Rida e Urdu’, ‘Adabi Istalahaat’, ‘Isnaaf e Urdu’, ‘Tafakhur e Pakistan’ and ‘Chand Hum Asar Iqbal Shanaas’.

Since only one book can be reviewed at a time, I chose ‘Rida e Urdu’. The theme of this book is the importance of language and its use by society as a means of communication. It is because of language that issues of national unity, socio-economic development, cultural evolution, growth in education etc. are resolved amicably. Language is as important as breathing. Human being is a part of the society. There is no life living in solitude. Language is also a means of creating love, affection, unity, cohesion, etiquette, discipline and conscious revolution. Urdu as per the author is the fourth largest language in the world. It is also the official language of Pakistan. India gave it the name, Hindi with Sanskrit alphabets. It did not allow its generations to write it in Arabic script. According to Wikipedia, Hindi (Devanagari) is a standardised and sanskritized register of Hindustani language. Modern Hindi and its literary tradition evolved towards the end of the 18th century. However, modern Hindi’s earlier literary stages before standardisation can be traced to the 16th century.

Urdu language started breathing from the Mughal Rule. Hazrat Ameer Khusrau gave voice to language through poetry. For spreading religion, the Sufi saints used Urdu to propagate their teachings. For the creation of our homeland Pakistan, Urdu language played second important role after Islam. Urdu language has been important for the two nation theory. Post 1857 war of independence, Urdu played an important role in education, knowledge, social, and reformation process from the forum of Aligarh Movement. The history is full of such instances.

Literature exists in written form, but all that is written is not literature. A good writer is the one who is a true representative of his nation’s aspirations

Not belittling the importance of Urdu language in which some of the great masterpieces have been written in fiction, poetry and prose, one finds unrest among people for not giving due respect to the local languages in Pakistan. Lahore, the capital of Punjab has witnessed some protests for giving Punjabi language its due respect. On Mother Day in 2018, Pakistan marked the International Mother Language Day to promote awareness of linguistic, multilingualism and cultural diversity. The representatives of local bodies like Punjabi Parchar, Punjabi Adabi Board etc. took out a rally from Punjab Assembly to Lahore Press Club.

Joined by activists, students, teachers and a large number of civil society members in Punjab, they demanded the constitutional right of education in their mother language – Punjabi. Their claim as reported in a local daily is that languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to develop awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world while inspiring solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

The book under review reserves chapters on various aspects linked with literature; the first one is on life and literature. It starts from examples of poetry of senior poets to the modern concept of literature. Iqbal is quoted ‘Talash Us Ki Fazaon Main Kar Naseeb Apna/Jehan-e-Taaza Meri Aah-e-Subhi Gaah Main’ (Look for your destiny in the mornings of renewed world).

One has to be careful in judging that literature exists in written form, but all that is written is not literature. A good writer is the one who is a true representative of his nation’s aspirations and guide the nation whenever it is found deviating from the true path.

Another chapter is reserved for link between literature and character. This reminds me of Khwaja Dil Muhammad’s book ‘Aina-e-Akhlaq’ written eight decades ago in which each poem highlights one aspect of human being’s character. Dr. Tabasum quotes Arnold whose contention is that poetry’s aim is not of social reformatory nature. He believes that art should not be a means of propagation. If a writer desires to make sex a theme of his creation, then they should opt for social reformation while dealing with such themes.

A chapter on criticism and research is the writer’s favourite topic. He discusses various types of criticism. Then he marches towards sketch and biographical writings in Urdu. The writer also discusses the subject of importance of meanings of words and writings. Everyday conversation, use of proverbs and their difference has been discussed. For example Sauda’s famous couplet is quoted ‘Rang Rukhsaar Sei Phoolon Kei Ura Jaata Hei/Na Chair Aei Naghat-e-Baad-e-Bahari Raah Lag Apni’ (Flowers are losing their colours, so the Spring breeze should opt for an alternate passage). A number of pages have been reserved for proper use of proverbs with examples quoted therein. Dr. Tabasum then enters into the proper use of alphabets, pronunciation of words, the ‘Airab’ with which words are joined together. Then, the author enters into the details of spellings and dictation. He also highlights the wrong use of language and words.

A very important issue of ‘Talmeeh’ has been discussed where a detailed story is avoided by using a word of a couple of words only. For example when Ghalib says ‘Kav Kav Sakht Jaani Haye Tanhai Na Pooch/ Subha Karna Shaam Ka Laana Hei Ju-e-Sheer Ka’, the Talmeeh is the word ‘Ju e Sheer’ Taken from the story of Shirin-Farhad when Farhad cut the mountain for a river of milk.

A detailed chapter is reserved for the brief introduction of famous Urdu writers, starting from Wali Dakani (1668-1707) (Page 137) to Parveen Shakir (1952-1994) (Page 210). Last but not the least the impact of English language on Urdu literature has been discussed. The book under review is a pot pouri of all aspects of Urdu language, grammar, literature and so on. It is worth keeping in one’s library for reference purposes.

Title: Rida-e-Urdu

Author: Dr Haroon ur Rasheed Tabasum

Publishers: Book Corner, Jhelum, Pakistan

Pages: 256 Price: Rs.480/-

Published in Daily Times, May 1^st 2018.