In his well-researched and curated book, Suhail Anjum provides pen sketches of 54 Hindu journalists
Asad Mirza | Clarion India
SENIOR journalist Suhail Anjum is a renowned name in Urdu journalism. During his career spanning more than 35 years, he has been associated with leading Urdu publications like weeklies Blitz, Akhbar-e Nau and Hamara Qadam and from 1995 to 2008 he was associated with the oldest multi-edition Urdu newspaper Qaumi Awaz. From 2002 he has been working as VOA’s Urdu correspondent in India.
Suhail has penned more than 40 books in different genres over the years, and out of these 12 have focused on different aspects of Urdu journalism.
His latest work focuses on the role and contribution of non-Muslim i.e. Hindu, Sikh and Christian journalists in promoting Urdu journalism in India. This aspect of Urdu journalism also exposes the misconception that Urdu is a language of the Indian Muslims, which has been promoted by successive governments of the day. Thus, any work related to the promotion of Urdu by them was seen as part of their appeasement policy and is being used by vested interests in targeting the Muslim community and underplaying the part of the Urdu language.
The 368-page book Urdu Sahafat Ke Farogh Mein Ghair-Muslim Sahafiyon Ki Khidmaat (Contribution of Non-Muslim Journalists in Promotion of Urdu Journalism) is priced at Rs 500. It is published by Nomani Care Foundation in Lucknow.
Suhail’s contribution in this regard is praiseworthy, as his thorough research has even brought out the contributions of lesser-known Hindu journalists to the promotion and growth of the language in the country. In this well-researched and curated book, Suhail provides pen sketches of 54 Hindu journalists from Harihar Dutt and Sada Sukh Lal to Kuldip Nayar, Vijay Kumar Chopra, Shanti Ranjan Bhattacharya, Fikr Taunsavi, GD Chandan and Jamna Das Akhtar.
However, it is not easy to comprehend why Suhail has ignored Munshi Premchand from this list. Premchand (1880-1936) started his career as one of the most prominent Indian authors of the 20th century in Urdu. His change towards Hindi was gradual, and he continued to write in Urdu until his death. Maybe this is due to the fact that Premchand is much better known as a novelist and short story writer.
The book is a must read particularly for those who harp on the theme of Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb or the mixed syncretic culture of north India, as the book proves the point that Hindu journalists from not just Uttar Pradesh and Bihar but from Punjab and even Bengal played a key role in the promotion of Urdu language in India. Thus, to link it to a particular religion would be a great disservice to the nation’s diversity and cultural ethos. And when we write about the history of Urdu Journalism, we cannot ignore the role and contribution of Hindus to Urdu journalism, from the start of the first Urdu newspaper Jam-e Jahan Numa in 1822 by Hari Har Dutt, till date.
It would be a great work indeed if the book is translated into English to reach those who can’t read it in Urdu and to highlight the rich diversity and assimilation of Urdu by all, irrespective of their religion.
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Asad Mirza is a New Delhi-based senior journalist and a media consultant. He writes on national, international and strategic affairs. The views expressed here are the author’s personal and Clarion India does not necessarily share or subscribe to them. He can be contacted at: asad.mirza.nd@gmail.com
