The National Council For Promotion Of Urdu Language (NCPUL) has announced it will release an Urdu version of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s book Bhavishya Ka Bharat on April 5, with many slamming the government body for promoting the book of an extremist and sectarian organisation. NCPUL has also made it compulsory for all its staff to attend the book launch.
The book is being released to promote RSS and its ideology among Muslims.
The book retitled in Urdu as “Mustaqbil Ka Bharat” is a compilation of lectures and speeches delivered by Bhagwat on 18 September 2018. During this speech, Bhagwat said that everyone who resides in India and identifies as Indian is Hindu.
The book is translated by Dr Aquil Ahmad, Director of the National Council for Promotion of Urdu languages (NCPUL). NCPUL is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD).
He said “This is being done to get over the preconceived notion of about RSS in Muslim community. It will help Muslim community and intellectual to understand the ideology of RSS.”
He asserted, “Indian culture is the reflection of what RSS wants to propagate and Hindutva not only represents Hindu culture but India as a whole. Muslims of India should unlearn what they have heard about RSS and learn about the idea behind this organisation through this book. They should also try to assimilate themselves in “RSS Shakhas” for the sake of nation-building.”
The book will be released by the joint general secretary (sah sarkaryawahak) of the RSS Dr Krishna Gopal and Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal will be the chief guest.
Firoz Bakht Ahmed, Chancellor of the Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), Hyderabad said, “Positive step as Urdu is the language of communal harmony. I hope this becomes a movement and a cue for other Muslim scholars and intellectuals to build bridges with the RSS. These kinds of initiatives will create a domino effect, the wall between RSS and the Muslim community should stop now,” The Print reported him as saying.
The move to translate the book has received a lot of criticism and backlash from Urdu linguists, intellectuals, academicians and social activists of the Muslim community.
Some called it a violation of NCPUL’s guidelines which says that “no book by a political leader or any sectarian material can be translated or published under the banner of the organization.”
Majid Deobandi, Vice Chairman of Delhi Urdu Academy and poet said, “This is a violation of funds of NCPUL, which are solely meant for the promotion of Urdu language, poets and writers. This book only carries an ideology of a particular organization is sheer violation of rules and ethics.”
Human Rights activist, Nadeem Khan took it to his Facebook page and while tagging at NCPUL’s invitation wrote, “Ae Urdu tere anjaam pe rona aaya (Oh Urdu! I feel crying over your fate).” He further wrote, “I am interested to see how many ‘Urdu lovers’ are going to grace the occasion, this is the litmus test for Urdu lovers.”
NCPUL has also released a circular making it mandatory for all its staff members to attend the book launch. The notice is signed and regulated by the Assistant Director of NCPUL.
The notice also issued a warning to the staff that a show-cause notice will be given to those who are found missing from the function.
The letter reads, “In continuation of the office order dated 31.03.2021 regarding participation in the book release function to be held on April 5, 2021, at 04:30 at the multipurpose hall at the India International Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, Director desires that all the officers/staff (regular/contract) will compulsorily attend the function on scheduled date and time except those on approved leave or other acceptable reason.”
However, the Director of NCPUL defended that there is nothing unusual in it and such a circular is always issued to ensure participation of their staff. The show-cause clause is only a process to know the reason for being absent.
Dr Aqeel said, “To run an institution, sometimes you have to take these kinds of steps. However, if someone really has a valid reason not to participate, he or she may do after taking prior permission. We are not forcing anyone to participate, but to make it a success we need staff to be there to manage it,” The Wire quoted him.
