URDU
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Urdu language experts suggest that Urdu originated on the Indian subcontinent several centuries ago. Historical records frequently mention three locations within India where the language evolved and prospered under different names over time.
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It is commonly believed that Urdu emerged in the military camps of Delhi, where it served as a linguistic bridge among soldiers from diverse regions, incorporating vocabulary from various languages to facilitate communication.
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However, literary critic Shamsur Rahman Faruqi challenges this view. He argues that Urdu developed as the native tongue of residents in a specific quarter of Mughal Delhi, known as Urdu-e-Moalla-e-Shahjahanabad—meaning the "Exalted City of Shahjahanabad."
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In his work Ghurrat-ul-Kamal, Ameer Khusro refers to Masood Lahori (Masood Saad Salman)—an 11th-century poet from Lahore—who composed verses in Hindvi, also referred to as Dehlavi.
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This, according to Professor Ali Abbas of Punjab University, indicates that Urdu had its early roots in Punjab. Before being officially recognized as "Urdu," the language was known by various names, including Hindustani, Hindavi, Dehlavi, and Rekhta.
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Historical records also show that Urdu, after originating in Punjab, underwent significant growth and refinement during the Delhi Sultanate period. It expanded not just in Delhi but also in neighboring regions such as Haryana and parts of southern India, where it took on the form of Dakhni (or Deccani) Urdu.
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Notably, Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah, the ruler of Golkonda and a scholar proficient in Urdu, Persian, and Telugu, is credited with being the first Urdu poet to compile a full poetic collection (Saheb-e-Dewan). He played a significant role in shaping Hindustani into a more developed form.
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Saif Mahmood further observes that the spoken language in the Urdu-Hindi region was traditionally Hindustani—a natural blend of Hindi and Urdu. Until the mid-20th century, this hybrid tongue was commonly written in both the Nastaliq script (Urdu) and the Devanagari script (Hindi), while everyday conversation avoided heavily Sanskritised or Persianised vocabulary
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English and Hindi serve as the two official languages recognized by the Central Government of India. Urdu, although not an official language at the national level, is one of the 15 Indian languages featured on Indian currency notes. It holds official status in several states and union territories, including Jammu & Kashmir, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, and West Bengal. In Punjab, historical documents maintained by the Revenue Department are still preserved in Urdu.
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As per the Census of 2001, India was home to 122 significant languages, including the 22 languages officially recognized in the Eighth Schedule, along with 234 mother tongues. Urdu ranked sixth among the most widely spoken scheduled languages. It is used, at least by a segment of the population, in nearly every Indian state and union territory, with the likely exception of the northeastern states, as highlighted in a judicial verdict.
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The Constitution of India, specifically Articles 344(1) and 351, outlines the framework for the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule. This Schedule includes the following 22 officially recognized languages: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili, and Dogri.
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According to Clause 1 of Article 343, Hindi written in the Devanagari script is designated as the official language of the Union. It also states that the numerals used for official purposes shall follow the international format of Indian numerals.
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Article 343(2) provides that for the first fifteen years after the Constitution came into effect (starting January 26, 1950), English would continue to be used for all Union-level official functions, as it had been prior to that date.
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Furthermore, Article 343(3) empowers Parliament to legislate, after the expiration of this fifteen-year period, regarding the continued use of English or the use of Devanagari numerals for specific official purposes as defined by such law
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Important Facts
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For Prelims: Official Language, Delhi Sultanate
For Mains: GS I - Art & Culture, GS II - Polity
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