'Khusrau Ki Paheli...': SC Judge Recites Poem In Decision On Urdu Signboard In Maharashtra Town
Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia said it would be unfortunate to consider Urdu solely as the language of Muslims. He said the language was born in India and has a large number of speakers.
The Supreme Court dismissed a petition challenging the use of Urdu signboards in the Patur Municipal Council of Akola in Maharashtra. The court remarked that if India had not been partitioned, the mixed language of Hindi and Urdu—Hindustani—might have become the national language of India.
Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia said it would be unfortunate to consider Urdu solely as the language of Muslims. He said the language was born in India and has a large number of speakers. "Even today, many legal terms are derived from Urdu. In fact, the name of the Hindi language itself comes from the Persian word "Hindvi"," he said.
The petitioner had cited the Maharashtra Local Authorities (Official Language) Act, 2022, arguing that Marathi is the official language of local bodies.
Using Extra Language On Signboards Doesn't Violate Law: SC
The Supreme Court bench ruled that using an extra language like Urdu on signboards does not violate the law. The court noted that the Act does not ban the use of Urdu.
The court said that if some people understand a particular language, then there should be no problem in writing municipal signboards in that language as well. The court responded that official work should indeed be conducted in the official language, but writing the municipal name in another language for public convenience does not violate the law.
Justice Dhulia recited a poem, saying if the Urdu language could speak, perhaps it would say this about itself:
"Urdu hai mera naam, main Khusro ki paheli
Kyon mujhko banate ho ta'ajjub ka nishaana
Maine to khud ko kabhi Musalmaan nahin maana
Dekha tha kabhi maine bhi khushiyon ka zamaana
Apne hi watan mein hoon magar aaj akeli
Urdu hai mera naam, main Khusro ki paheli"
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