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{{Distinguish|Rekhta}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2021}}
{{short description|Literary web portal in India}}
{{Infobox website
| name = Rekhta
| logo = Rekhta Logo New Black.png
| url = {{URL|rekhta.org}}
| commercial = No<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2018/11/27/urdu-binds-people-of-subcontinent-rekhta-founder-sanjiv-saraf-435730/|title=Urdu binds people of Subcontinent: Rekhta founder Sanjiv Saraf|date=November 27, 2018}}</ref>
| type = [[Literature]]
| registration = Optional
| language = English, [[Urdu]], [[Hindi]]
| content_license = [[Creative Commons license]]<ref name="Rekhta">{{cite web | website=Rekhta | url=https://www.rekhta.org/CMS/Disclaimer |title=Disclaimer | access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref>
| owner = Rekhta Foundation<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/editorial/a-virtual-urdu-library-for-free/|title=A virtual Urdu library for free- Sentinelassam|first=Sentinel Digital|last=Desk|date=December 5, 2019|website=www.sentinelassam.com}}</ref>
| founder = Sanjiv Saraf
| launch_date = {{Start year|2013|df=no}}
| current_status = Online
}}
'''Rekhta''' is an Indian literary [[web portal]] owned by Rekhta Foundation, a [[nonprofit organization|nonprofit]] and [[non-governmental organization]] dedicated to the promotion of [[Urdu literature]] in South Asia. It has digitalized about ninety thousand books during the period of six years since it began publishing [[Urdu literature|Urdu]], [[Hindi literature|Hindi]] and [[Persian literature]], containing biographies of poets, [[Urdu poetry]], fiction and nonfiction writings that originally belongs to [[Public library|public]] and [[Research library|research libraries]] in the [[Indian subcontinent]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/urdu-literature-receives-a-boost-90000-titles-digitised-in-6-years|title=Urdu literature receives a boost as over 90 thousand titles digitised in 6 years|website=Republic World}}</ref> It serves content in multiple scripts such as [[Devanagari]], [[Latin script|Roman]] and, primarily, [[Nastaliq]].<ref>{{cite web | website=Rekhta | url=https://www.rekhta.org/CMS/About-Site |title=About Site | access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref> It also includes religious texts, including the [[Quran]] and the [[Mahabharata]], a [[Sanskrit literature|Sanskrit]] [[Indian epic poetry|epic]] of [[ancient India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.siasat.com/rekhta-claims-digitising-90000-urdu-titles-1750646/|title=Rekhta claims digitising 90,000 Urdu titles|date=December 4, 2019}}</ref> It hosts books from centuries earlier and is recognized the largest web portal in the world for the preservation of Urdu literature.<ref>{{cite web | last=Mahmudabad | first=Ali Khan | title=How did the Indian Muslim identity express itself through poetry before Independence? | website=Scroll.in | date=13 February 2020 | url=https://scroll.in/article/952895/how-did-the-indian-muslim-identity-express-itself-through-poetry-before-independence | access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="#1 Online Events (Buy Tickets for all Upcoming Events) 2018">{{cite web | title=Book tickets to Shaam-E-Rekhta - World Poetry Day - Bangalore | website=insider.in | date=15 March 2018 | url=https://insider.in/shaam-e-rekhta-world-poetry-day-21-march-2018-blr/event | access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref>

The site has digitalized more than 90,000 e-books with nineteen million pages, which are categorically classified into different sections such as [[Diary|diaries]], [[children's literature]], poetries, [[Book censorship|banned book]]s, and translations, involving Urdu poetry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/books/2019/dec/03/leg-up-for-urdu-literature-90000-titles-digitised-in-six-years-2070925.html|title=Leg up for Urdu literature, 90,000 titles digitised in six years|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> It is also credited for preserving 4,455 biographies of poets (worldwide), 41,017 [[ghazal]]s, 26,414 [[couplet]]s, 7,852 [[nazm]]s, 6,836 literary videos, 2,127 audio files, 76,398 e-books<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/anniversary-issue/story/20191230-body-of-language-1630071-2019-12-20|title=Body of language|first1=Mohammad Waqas New Delhi|last1=December 20|first2=2019 ISSUE DATE|last2=December 30|first3=2019UPDATED|last3=December 20|first4=2019 14:21|last4=Ist|website=India Today}}</ref> [[manuscript]]s and pop magazines.

== History ==
Rekhta was founded in January 2013 in [[Nagpur]], India.<ref name="The Hindu 2015">{{cite news | title=Log on to Rekhta, feel the richness of Urdu | newspaper=The Hindu | date=7 September 2015 | url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/internet/log-on-to-rekhta-feel-the-richness-of-urdu/article7623032.ece | access-date=4 June 2020| last1=Deshpande | first1=Manasi }}</ref> The portal came into existence after the idea of "Urdu virtual library" was introduced by Sanjiv Saraf to [[professor]]s at the university. The literary works, including Urdu poetry were collected from the different private and public libraries across the major cities of India such as [[Lucknow]], [[Bhopal]], [[Hyderabad]], [[Aligarh]], including India's capital [[Delhi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indianlink.com.au/rekhta-urdu-books-online-library/|title=Urdu Mahabharata e-book in Rekhta's virtual library|first=Indian|last=Link|date=December 4, 2019}}</ref>

== Literature promotion ==
=== Rekhta Live ===
Following the [[COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns]], it launched an "online [[mehfil]]" (live seasons) of [[literature]], [[music]] and [[poetry]] across its social channels via [[third-party software component]]. It was attended by the people across the five continents, leading the website to receive over two million views.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/features-2/beat-lockdown-blues-set-8-pm-reminder-for-rekhtalive-music-and-poetry-5210931.html|title=Beat lockdown blues: Set 8 pm reminder for RekhtaLive music and poetry|website=Moneycontrol}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/music-and-poetry-in-the-times-of-social-distancing/1799310|title=Music and poetry in the times of social distancing|website=www.outlookindia.com}}</ref>

=== Festivals ===
{{main|Jashn-e-Rekhta}}
The Foundation celebrates various literary festivals, including Jashn-e-Rekhta, in which people from different walks are invited to participate in literary works such as Urdu poetry, music, [[Short story|short stories]]. It also engage the literary figures in direct conversations to promote [[Hindustani language]] along with the Urdu literature.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/sanjiv-saraf-celebrating-the-vibrant-shades-of-urdu/article25742178.ece|title=Sanjiv Saraf: Celebrating the vibrant shades of Urdu|first=Anuj|last=Kumar|newspaper=The Hindu|date=December 14, 2018|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/celebrating-the-language-of-poetry-third-edition-of-jashn-e-rekhta-has-artists-poets-writers-musicians-coming-together-gulzar-dastangoi-sanjiv-saraf-4528935/|title=Celebrating the Language of Poetry: Third edition of Jashn-e-Rekhta has artists, poets, writers, musicians coming together|date=February 17, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Pakistan Today 2016">{{cite web | title=Urdu put on a fast track by Rekhta in three-day festival | website=Pakistan Today | date=27 February 2016 | url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/02/27/urdu-put-on-a-fast-track-by-rekhta-in-3-day-festival/ | access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref> The two day event is organized every year at Delhi.<ref name="Desk 2015">{{cite web | last=Desk | first=Entertainment | title=Jashn-e-Rekhta begins celebration of Urdu in India today | website=DAWN.COM | date=14 March 2015 | url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1169529 | access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref>

=== Shaam-e-Sher ===
The Foundation has also begun organising [[mushaira]]s, a literary event called Shaam-e-Sher (poetry in the evening). It is generally attended by the [[Young adult (psychology)|young adult]] poets aged between eighteen to thirty. It was primarily adopted to promote Urdu literature where [[ghazal]]s and [[nazm]]s are recited by the event attendees.<ref name="IANS 2016">{{cite news | author=IANS | title=Shaam-e-Sher: Reinvigorating Urdu among youth (Societal Feature) | newspaper=Business Standard India | date=18 June 2016 | url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/shaam-e-sher-reinvigorating-urdu-among-youth-societal-feature-116061800233_1.html | access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref>

=== Aamozish ===

Launched by the Foundation in 2017, Aamozish is an e-learning initiative that seeks to promote the Urdu script.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Murthy|first=Neeraja|date=2020-11-26|title=E-platform ‘Aamozish’ helps to learn Urdu in seven days|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/e-platform-aamozish-helps-to-learn-urdu-in-seven-days/article33184428.ece|access-date=2021-06-06|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

=== Sufinama ===

Sufinama is a Rekhta Foundation initiative that preserves and propagates 400 years of Sufi writing and philosophy. It also provides the largest online collection of [[Amir Khusrau|Hazrat Amir Khusrau’s]] work and the translations of his Persian ghazals.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Desk|first=NH Web|date=2020-06-10|title=Rekhta’s Sufinama to hold virtual Urs to commemorate 716th death anniversary of Sufi Saint Amir Khusrau|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/rekhtas-sufinama-to-hold-virtual-urs-to-commemorate-716th-death-anniversary-of-sufi-saint-amir-khusrau|access-date=2021-06-06|website=National Herald|language=en}}</ref>

=== Hindwi ===

The Foundation also launched Hindwi, a website dedicated to Hindi literature, in July 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Saving India's Urdu heritage, one book at a time - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/saving-indias-urdu-heritage-one-book-at-a-time/articleshow/77797929.cms|access-date=2021-06-06|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-26|title=Rekhta: From Amir Khusrau to Mirza Ghalib, Sanjiv Saraf’s initiative is saving India’s Urdu heritage, one book at a time|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/rekhta-from-amir-khusrau-to-mirza-ghalib-sanjiv-saraf-s-initiative-is-saving-india-s-urdu-heritage-one-book-at-a-time/story-5pYJ3iX1NgcveAkw5wTCmI.html|access-date=2021-06-06|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

== Controversies ==
The organization made changes in the Jashn-e-Rekhta event by replacing the Urdu with [[Hindustani language]], although the organization was established for the promotion of Urdu literature through its portal. On 13 December 2019, it made official announcement during its sixth edition of the [[mehfil]] held at [[Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium]]. The posters, which were received by the event speakers mentioned "Jashn-e-Rekhta: The Biggest Celebration of Hindustani Language and Culture" (not mentioning "Urdu" word). Later, the Urdu speakers criticised the changes citing "It seems Jashn-e-Rekhta has surrendered to the powers that be". An Indian writer and journalist Ziya Us Salam called the changes unfavorable and linked it to the [[Delhi High Court]]'s decision after it ordered the [[Delhi Police|police]] "to cut down on “difficult” words in Urdu". An Indian poet [[Gauhar Raza]] subsequently called the changes "unfortunate" and "problematic".<ref>{{cite web | last=Anjum | first=Nawaid | title=After Rekhta skips ‘Urdu’ on posters of its annual festival, lovers of the language fret, organisers bring it back | website=The Indian Express | date=3 December 2019 | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/rekhta-urdu-a-language-by-any-other-name-6147688/ | access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.rekhta.org}}
*[https://rekhtafoundation.org/ Rekhta Foundation]
*[https://jashnerekhta.org/ Jashn-e-Rekhta]
*[https://aamozish.com/ Aamozish]
*[https://www.sufinama.org/ Sufinama]
*[https://hindwi.org/ Hindwi]
*

[[Category:Literary translation websites]]
[[Category:Web portals]]
[[Category:2013 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Arts organisations based in Delhi]]
[[Category:Indian digital libraries]]
[[Category:Indian literature websites]]
[[Category:Indian educational websites]]
[[Category:Indian online encyclopedias]]
[[Category:Non-profit organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Cultural promotion organizations]]
[[Category:Urdu-language websites]]
[[Category:Urdu-language computing]]
[[Category:Urdu-language literature]]

Rekhta (website) - Revision history

imported>TheBirdsShedTears: Remove unnecessary content. See WP:NOTPAPER