Legal experts and social media users point to Urdu’s recognised status under the Constitution and praise Maulana Azad’s contribution to the freedom struggle and education
MALEGAON — A dispute over an Urdu nameplate displayed on the Malegaon Municipal Corporation building has led to protests by a right-wing Hindu organisation and started a wider public debate about language rights, the Constitution and the legacy of India’s first Education Minister, Bharat Ratna Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
The protest was organised under the banner of Sakal Hindu Samaj, which took out a Jan Aakrosh Morcha demanding that the civic administration remove the Urdu nameplate from the government building in Maharashtra. Videos of the demonstration later spread across social media, where many users questioned the objections raised against the use of Urdu on a public building.
According to information available, the Malegaon Municipal Corporation recently installed a signboard on its office building carrying the civic body’s name in both Hindi and Urdu. The building has also been named “Bharat Ratna Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Bhavan” in honour of the senior freedom fighter and independent India’s first Education Minister. The name is written in both Hindi and Urdu.
During the protest, demonstrators raised slogans and asked the administration to remove the Urdu signboard. They also submitted their demand to the authorities and called for immediate action.
Addressing the gathering, Sakal Hindu Samaj leader Harsha Thakur criticised the use of Urdu on the government building. “These Urdu nameplates should be removed as soon as possible,” he said.
Questioning the presence of the Urdu signboard, Thakur added: “I have never seen a government nameplate written in Urdu before. Is Malegaon Pakistan? There is no provision in the Constitution for writing in Urdu.”
His remarks quickly drew attention online, with many people challenging the claim and pointing to constitutional provisions relating to recognised languages in India.
Several legal commentators and social media users noted that Urdu is one of the languages included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India, giving it official constitutional recognition. They also pointed out that references to Urdu appear in constitutional provisions dealing with official languages and language policy.
Many users further argued that several Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Telangana, have granted Urdu the status of an additional official language alongside the primary state language. They said that the use of Urdu on government signboards in areas where it has official recognition is not unusual.
The controversy also led to renewed discussion about Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, after whom the building has been named. Many people on social media said opposition to a building carrying his name was inappropriate, given his role in India’s freedom movement and in shaping the country’s education system.
One social media user wrote: “Maulana Abul Kalam Azad dedicated his life to India’s independence and laid the foundation of modern education in the country. His contribution should be respected by every Indian.”
Another user commented: “Urdu is an Indian language. It developed in India and has been recognised by the Constitution. Objecting to its use only creates unnecessary division.”
The issue has also drawn attention because Malegaon has a large Urdu-speaking population, and residents say the use of multiple languages on public buildings helps ensure government services are accessible to all sections of society.
Supporters of the bilingual signboard argue that displaying information in Hindi and Urdu reflects the linguistic character of the city and promotes inclusion rather than division. They maintain that using Urdu alongside Hindi does not diminish the status of any other language.
Critics of the protest have also stressed that India’s Constitution protects the country’s linguistic diversity and encourages respect for all recognised languages. They argue that public debates over language should be guided by constitutional principles rather than political rhetoric.
At the time of writing, the Malegaon Municipal Corporation had not announced any decision regarding the demand to remove the Urdu nameplate. It also remained unclear whether the administration would make any changes to the signage following the protest.
The controversy has once again brought questions of language, identity and constitutional rights into public discussion, with supporters of the bilingual signboard insisting that Urdu remains an integral part of India’s linguistic and cultural heritage, while protesters continue to demand its removal from the municipal building.
