HYDERABAD: The students of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) protested against the remarks made by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath in the state assembly, which they condemned as anti-Urdu and reflective of deeper prejudices.
They said that the UP CM’s anti-Urdu remarks should not be seen in isolation.
“Urdu is an integral part of India’s linguistic and cultural heritage but holds a special place among Indian Muslims due to their vast religious and intellectual literature in the language. Yogi’s remarks are not just about a language; they target the intellectual, political, and cultural legacy of Muslims, which is deeply embedded in Urdu,” said Talha Mannan, a research scholar at MANUU.
Highlighting Urdu’s historic role, Mateen Ashraf, outgoing President of the MANUU Students’ Union, said, “Urdu is the language of Mahatma Gandhi, Premchand, Chakbast, and many other luminaries.
It played a crucial role in India’s freedom movement. Yogi’s remarks not only undermine and insult this legacy but also expose deep-seated hatred against an indigenous language.”
Protesting students also urged MANUU faculty and staff to raise their voices against such statements, given that MANUU is the only central university dedicated to Urdu.