BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi: Urdu is an Indian language, not foreign
Amid ongoing debates over language policy in education and politics, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi on Thursday affirmed that Urdu is an Indian language, with its origins in the Indian subcontinent.
Speaking at an event organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in collaboration with Kanchi Shankaracharya Vijayendra Saraswati, Mr. Joshi stated that Urdu did not originate outside the country. He also praised the efforts of the previous National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to encourage Indian Muslims to read the Quran in Urdu rather than Arabic.
“Even Bengali, the national language of Bangladesh, originated in the Indian subcontinent,” Mr. Joshi added, drawing a parallel to underscore the indigenous roots of regional languages.
The event also saw the launch of a ‘Sanjhiwalta’ (sharedness) campaign in Punjab, aimed at promoting Hindu-Sikh unity. The Shankaracharya announced the formation of a trust to undertake temple renovation and related activities in the state, emphasizing that Hindus and Sikhs share a common spiritual heritage.
The VHP has been expanding its outreach in Punjab amid concerns over alleged religious conversions. Proposals discussed include restoring and maintaining temples, conserving historic places of worship, holding larger religious events, and fostering closer ties between Hindus and Sikhs. Sources present at the event said discussions also covered demographic trends and measures to discourage religious conversions.
VHP president Alok Kumar described what he called “cultural infiltration” as a long-term challenge. He said the erosion of traditional practices should be addressed through religious and cultural institutions, and not through politics alone.
The remarks by Mr. Joshi come at a time when language policies, including the use of Hindi and English in education and official communication, are being debated across the country. The assertion that Urdu is an Indian language aligns with constitutional provisions that recognise Urdu as one of the scheduled languages of India.
