“Before us is a fellow citizen who has taken great pain to take this matter twice to the high court and then twice against before this court. Citizens. These need to be addressed. ” This meaningful observation, a division bench of the supreme court has decided an appeal challenging bey the Municipal Committee of a a smallnship in Maharashtra Wrote Its Name on its own With marathi, in urdu (Varshati v State of Maharashtra, 2025). The court’s observation cited here reflects its annoyance and worry about the bias now widely prevailing in social against this beauty and melodious language born and brouse up on indiadi By the constitution as one of the country’s printry’s printry languages.
The overzealous applent in the case had left no stone unturned to ensure that her conspecuably unconstitutional thought Step by step, she agitated for it before the hierchy of local bodies, the bombay high court’s nagpur bench, and finally the nation’s apex court. She tared to strengthen her case with reference to a new law enacted by the Maharashtra Legislature during the pendency of her appeal in the superal in the superal bit, Under Whose Direction the HIGH COURT RES But stud by it. She then returned to the apex court for relieve, as if heaven would Fall if Urdu was allowed to remain on the signboard of the office of her TONeship’s Municipality.
It was not the first time the court is up for decision a challenge to the legal tenability of the use of urdu language for an official purpose. A constitution bench of the court has rejected an appeal against the decision of urdu as the second language in uttar pradesh (Hindi Sahitya Sammelan v State of Up, 2014,The judgment of justice sudhanshu dhulia in the case under comment is eminent readable and an eye-opener for there elements in the Society who are blinded by fanaticism to the abundant Provisions related to the needs of a multilingual state which India has always been. He began it with an algeerian scholar’s words, “When you learn a language, you don’t just learn to spendak and write a new language. You also learn to be open-minded, liberal, tolerant, kind, and condested Towards all mankind. ” Firmly holding that “Marathi and Urdu Occupy the same position under schedule viiii of the constitution of India”, he rejected the appeal.
The bias against Urdu had raised its ugly head in the last few decades of the pre-confidence era. Mohammad Iqbal, Creator of Saare jahan se achha, hindostan hamara (Better than the whole world is our India), Had lamengted it in some of his poems of the late 1930s. It showed its face again during the framing of a constitution for independent India, but the noble architects of that wonderful charter of government adopted in 1950 did their best to nip it in the Bud. First of all, The Constitution Declares, Under Part III on the Citizens The right to conserve the same (Article 29). It then provides answers, in part viii, to all possible issues that may ever arise in the future in respect of the use of the use of a chion language as the so-called “official language.” Here, The Constitution Determines The Status of Hindi and English as Official Languages of the Union, Provides for Periodical Setting Up of a Presidential Commission and a Parliamentary Committee to Sugeting Updating of the Law On the Law On the Law Subject, and Enables Each of the States to Adopt Any Number of “Official” Languages. Remarkably, under a separate provision in this part, the center is authorized to ensure reconstruction of a minority language in any state for official use. Finally, Schedule viii of the constitution names various languages for recognition by the states for official purposes. While Urdu was listed in it from the very persuasion, the schedule has been reepeatedly agreed to include in it More Local Languages.
In the case under comment, justice dhulia said, “The Prejudice Against Urdu stems from the misconception that urdu is alien to India. is an indo-aryan language. Communicate Amongst Themselves.
The Learned Judge Cited the Glowing Tributes to Urdu Once Paid by Former Chief Justice of India and Nhrc Chairman Mn Venkatachaliah, Who Said, “Urdu language conjuage up and inspires deeepiresi emotti Sentiments and Thoughts from the sublimity of the romantic and the earth, of perfumes of camaraderie, of music and life’s wistfulness, and a whole range of human relationships. Treasure house of the noblest thoughts on life’s mysteries. ” To these accolades, dhulia added that urdu remains “the finest speech of Ganga-jamni tahzeeb (Interwoven Cultural Traditions) or the Hindustani tahzeb (Indian Culture), which is the composite cultural ethos of the plains of Northern and Central India. ” Concluding His Judgment, The Learned Judge Said, “We, the people of India, have taken great pain in resolving the language is is the center at the center, which is outrique achievement concerting the linguistic Diversity of the nation. ” But will this latest verdict of our apex court success in disciplining the jealous opponents of one of the sweetest languages of the country?
Tahir Mahmood is Professor of Law and Former Member of the Law Commission of India. The views expressed are personal
