Urdu Defence Association - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 21:11, 14 November 2025
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	The '''Urdu Defence Association''' was an organisation developed by [[Mohsin-ul-Mulk]], starting in 1900,<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.google.com/search?q=cache:Yt-hRCT-ZQIJ:www.cssforum.com.pk/css-optional-subjects/group-e-history-subjects/indo-pak-history/14424-solved-objectives-indo-pak-past-papers-since-1985-a.html+%22Urdu+Defense+Association%22&hl=pt-PT&gl=pt\|title=Solved Objectives of Indo-Pak pas papers since 1985}}</ref> for the advocacy of [[Urdu]] as the ''lingua franca'' of the [[Muslim]] community of [[India]]. The association is regarded as an offshoot of the [[Aligarh Movement]].		{{Use dmy dates\|date=December 2022}}
			{{Use Indian English\|date=December 2022}}
			The '''Urdu Defence Association''' was an organisation developed by [[Mohsin-ul-Mulk]], starting in 1900, for the advocacy of [[Urdu]] as the ''lingua franca'' of the [[Muslim]] community of [[India]]. The association is regarded as an offshoot of the [[Aligarh Movement]].

	== Background ==		== Background ==
Line 6:		Line 8:
	{{See also\|Urdu#History\|Urdu movement}}		{{See also\|Urdu#History\|Urdu movement}}

	During the last days of the Muslim rule in [[Indian Sub-continent]], Urdu (with [[Perso-Arabic script]]) emerged as the most common language of the northwestern provinces of India. Its vocabulary developed under [[Persian language\|Persian]], [[Arabic language\|Arabic]], [[Turkic languages\|Turkic]], [[Sanskrit language\|Sanskrit~~]], and [[Pashto language\|Pashto~~]] influence. Urdu had taken almost 900 years to develop to its present form.<ref name="bbc-lang-urdu-1">{{cite web\|url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other/guide/urdu/history.shtml\| title = A brief history of Urdu\|publisher = BBC\|access-date = 2010-07-01}}</ref> It began taking shape during the [[Delhi Sultanate]] as well as [[Mughal Empire]] (1526–1858) in [[South Asia]]. Urdu was mainly developed in Delhi and its surrounding areas which was the seat of Royal court of the [[Indian ~~Subcontinent~~]]. It also became a language of Muslim nobility. After Persian language, it was most widely used in the Mughal Royal Court. It was declared the official language, and all official records were written in this language. In 1876, some Hindus began to demand that Hindi should be made an official language in place of Urdu, and they started a movement in Banaras in which they demanded the replacement of Urdu with Hindi, and the Perso-Arabic script with the [[Devanagari]], script as the court language in the northwestern provinces. The reason for opposing Urdu was that the language was written in Persian script, which was similar to the Arabic script, and Arabic was the language of the Quran, the Holy Book of the Muslims. The movement grew quickly and within a few months spread throughout the Hindu population of the northwestern provinces of India. The headquarters of this movement were in Allahabad.		During the last days of the Muslim rule in [[Indian Sub-continent]], Urdu (with [[Perso-Arabic script]]) emerged as the most common language of the northwestern provinces of India. Its vocabulary developed under [[Persian language\|Persian]], [[Arabic language\|Arabic]], [[Turkic languages\|Turkic]], and [[Sanskrit language\|Sanskrit]] influence. Urdu had taken almost 900 years to develop to its present form.<ref name="bbc-lang-urdu-1">{{cite web\|url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other/guide/urdu/history.shtml\|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061028013927/http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other/guide/urdu/history.shtml\|url-status = dead\|archive-date = 28 October 2006\| title = A brief history of Urdu\|publisher = BBC\|access-date = 2010-07-01}}</ref> It began taking shape during the [[Delhi Sultanate]] as well as [[Mughal Empire]] (1526–1858) in [[South Asia]]. Urdu was mainly developed in Delhi and its surrounding areas which was the seat of Royal court of the [[Indian subcontinent]]. It also became a language of Muslim nobility. After Persian language, it was most widely used in the Mughal Royal Court. It was declared the official language, and all official records were written in this language. In 1876, some Hindus began to demand that Hindi should be made an official language in place of Urdu, and they started a movement in Banaras in which they demanded the replacement of Urdu with Hindi, and the Perso-Arabic script with the [[Devanagari]], script as the court language in the northwestern provinces. The reason for opposing Urdu was that the language was written in Persian script, which was similar to the Arabic script, and Arabic was the language of the Quran, the Holy Book of the Muslims. The movement grew quickly and within a few months spread throughout the Hindu population of the northwestern provinces of India. The headquarters of this movement were in Allahabad.{{fact\|date=December 2022}}

	This situation provoked the Muslims to come out in order to protect the importance of the Urdu language. The opposition by the Hindus towards the Urdu language made it clear to the Muslims of the region that Hindus were not ready to tolerate the culture and traditions of the Muslims.		This situation provoked the Muslims to come out in order to protect the importance of the Urdu language. The opposition by the Hindus towards the Urdu language made it clear to the Muslims of the region that Hindus were not ready to tolerate the culture and traditions of the Muslims.{{fact\|date=December 2022}}

	The [[Hindi-Urdu controversy\|Urdu-Hindi controversy]] had a great effect on the life of Sir [[Syed Ahmad Khan]]. Before this event he had been a great advocate of [[Hindu-Muslim unity]] and was of the opinion that the "two nations are like two eyes of the beautiful bride, India". But this movement completely altered his point of view. He put forward the Two-Nation Theory, predicting that the differences between the two groups would increase with the passage of time and the two communities would not join together in anything wholeheartedly.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://storyofpakistan.com/urdu-hindi-controversy/\|title=Urdu-Hindi Controversy \| Muslim rule, Urdu emerged as the most common language of the northwestern provinces of India.\|date=June 1, 2003}}</ref>		The [[Hindi-Urdu controversy\|Urdu-Hindi controversy]] had a great effect on the life of Sir [[Syed Ahmad Khan]]. Before this event he had been a great advocate of [[Hindu-Muslim unity]] and was of the opinion that the "two nations are like two eyes of the beautiful bride, India". But this movement completely altered his point of view. He put forward the Two-Nation Theory, predicting that the differences between the two groups would increase with the passage of time and the two communities would not join together in anything wholeheartedly.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://storyofpakistan.com/urdu-hindi-controversy/\|title=Urdu-Hindi Controversy &#124; Muslim rule, Urdu emerged as the most common language of the northwestern provinces of India.\|date=1 June 2003}}</ref>

	== Vision of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan ==		== Vision of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan ==
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	Sir [[Syed Ahmed Khan]] perceived Urdu as the ''lingua franca'' of Muslims. Having been developed by Muslim rulers of India, Urdu was used as a secondary language to Persian, the official language of the Mughal court. Since the decline of the Mughal dynasty, Sir Syed promoted the use of Urdu through his own writings. Under Sir Syed, the Scientific Society translated Western works only into Urdu. The schools established by Sir Syed imparted education in the Urdu medium. The demand for Hindi, led largely by Hindus, was to Sir Syed an erosion of the centuries-old Muslim cultural domination of India. Testifying before the British-appointed education commission, Sir Syed controversially exclaimed that "Urdu was the language of [[gentry]] and Hindi that of the vulgar." His remarks provoked a hostile response from Hindu leaders, who unified across the nation to demand the recognition of Hindi.		Sir [[Syed Ahmed Khan]] perceived Urdu as the ''lingua franca'' of Muslims. Having been developed by Muslim rulers of India, Urdu was used as a secondary language to Persian, the official language of the Mughal court. Since the decline of the Mughal dynasty, Sir Syed promoted the use of Urdu through his own writings. Under Sir Syed, the Scientific Society translated Western works only into Urdu. The schools established by Sir Syed imparted education in the Urdu medium. The demand for Hindi, led largely by Hindus, was to Sir Syed an erosion of the centuries-old Muslim cultural domination of India. Testifying before the British-appointed education commission, Sir Syed controversially exclaimed that "Urdu was the language of [[gentry]] and Hindi that of the vulgar." His remarks provoked a hostile response from Hindu leaders, who unified across the nation to demand the recognition of Hindi.

	Khan had once stated,<ref name="ReferenceA">Hayat-i-Javed A Biographical Account of Sir Sayyid, by Hali Altaf Husain Hali, translated by Mathews David J. Qadiri K.H., published by Idarah-I-Adabiyat-I-Delli, 1979, Delhi</ref> "I look to both Hindus and Muslims with the same eyes & consider them as two eyes of a bride. By the word nation I only mean Hindus and Muslims and nothing else. We Hindus and Muslims live together on the same soil under the same government. Our interest and problems are common and therefore I consider the two factions as one nation." Speaking to Mr. Shakespeare, the governor of [[Varanasi\|Banaras]], after the language controversy heated up, he said "I am now convinced that the Hindus and Muslims could never become one nation as their religion and way of life was quite distinct from one another."<ref name="ReferenceA"/>		Khan had once stated,<ref name="ReferenceA">Hayat-i-Javed A Biographical Account of Sir Sayyid, by Hali Altaf Husain Hali, translated by Mathews David J. Qadiri K.H., published by Idarah-I-Adabiyat-I-Delli, 1979, Delhi</ref> "I look to both Hindus and Muslims with the same eyes & consider them as two eyes of a bride. By the word nation I only mean Hindus and Muslims and nothing else. We Hindus and Muslims live together on the same soil under the same government. Our interest and problems are common and therefore I consider the two factions as one nation." Speaking to Mr. Shakespeare, the governor of [[Varanasi\|Banaras]], after the language controversy heated up, he said "I am now convinced that the Hindus and Muslims could never become one nation as their religion and way of life was quite distinct from one another."<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

	Sir Syed later said "now I am convinced that both these communities will not join whole heartedly in anything. At present there is no open hostility between the two communities but it will increase immensely in the future."		Sir Syed later said "now I am convinced that both these communities will not join whole heartedly in anything. At present there is no open hostility between the two communities but it will increase immensely in the future."
Line 28:		Line 30:
	Later the followers of Sir Syed tried their level best to save the [[Urdu]] language. Mohsin-ul-Mulk was the outstanding person who organized the Muslims in defense of Urdu. Towards the beginning of the 20th century, the Hindi-Urdu controversy again flared up in the United Provinces. Mohsin-ul-Mulk took up the pen in defense of '''[[Urdu]]''' in collaboration with the Urdu Defense Association.		Later the followers of Sir Syed tried their level best to save the [[Urdu]] language. Mohsin-ul-Mulk was the outstanding person who organized the Muslims in defense of Urdu. Towards the beginning of the 20th century, the Hindi-Urdu controversy again flared up in the United Provinces. Mohsin-ul-Mulk took up the pen in defense of '''[[Urdu]]''' in collaboration with the Urdu Defense Association.

	Earlier, the success of the Hindi movement led Sir Syed to further advocate [[Urdu]] as the symbol of Muslim heritage and as the language of all Indian Muslims. His educational and political work grew increasingly centered on and exclusively for Muslim interests. He also sought to persuade the British to give Urdu extensive official use and patronage. His colleagues and protégés such as [[Mohsin-ul-Mulk]] and [[Maulvi Abdul Haq]] developed organisations such as the Urdu Defence Association and the [[Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu]], committed to the perpetuation of Urdu. Sir Syed's protégé [[Shibli Nomani]] led efforts that resulted in the adoption of Urdu as the official language of the [[Hyderabad State]] and as the medium of instruction in the [[Osmania University]].<ref>Muslim Politics and Leadership in the South Asian Sub-continent \|publisher=Institute of Islamic History, Culture and Civilization, Islamic University (Islamabad)</ref> To Muslims in northern and western India, Urdu had become an integral part of political and cultural identity. However, the division over the use of Hindi or Urdu further provoked communal conflict between Muslims and Hindus in India.		Earlier, the success of the Hindi movement led Sir Syed to further advocate [[Urdu]] as the symbol of Muslim heritage and as the language of all Indian Muslims. His educational and political work grew increasingly centered on and exclusively for Muslim interests. He also sought to persuade the British to give Urdu extensive official use and patronage. His colleagues and protégés such as [[Mohsin-ul-Mulk]] and [[Maulvi Abdul Haq]] developed organisations such as the Urdu Defence Association and the [[Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu]], committed to the perpetuation of Urdu. Sir Syed's protégé [[Shibli Nomani]] led efforts that resulted in the adoption of Urdu as the official language of the [[Hyderabad State]] and as the medium of instruction in the [[Osmania University]].<ref>Muslim Politics and Leadership in the South Asian Sub-continent \|publisher=Institute of Islamic History, Culture and Civilization, Islamic University (Islamabad)</ref> To Muslims in northern and western India, Urdu had become an integral part of political and cultural identity. However, the division over the use of Hindi or Urdu further provoked communal conflict between Muslims and Hindus in India.

	Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk's patronage of Urdu led to its widespread use amongst Indian Muslim communities and following the partition of India, its adoption as the national language of [[Pakistan]].<ref name=Dawn>{{cite web\|url=https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailImage.php?StoryImage=23_05_2017_118_007 \|title=National language and Pakistani languages: the only way out\|author=Rauf Parekh\|date=23 May 2017\|newspaper=Dawn (newspaper)\|access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref>		Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk's patronage of Urdu led to its widespread use amongst Indian Muslim communities and following the partition of India, its adoption as the national language of [[Pakistan]].<ref name=Dawn>{{cite web\|url=https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailImage.php?StoryImage=23_05_2017_118_007 \|title=National language and Pakistani languages: the only way out\|author=Rauf Parekh\|date=23 May 2017\|newspaper=Dawn (newspaper)\|access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref>

	== References ==		== References ==
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	== External links ==		== External links ==
	* [http://www.storyofpakistan.com/articletext.asp?artid=A133 Urdu-Hindi Controversy \| Muslim rule, Urdu emerged as the most common language of the northwestern provinces of India.]		* [http://www.storyofpakistan.com/articletext.asp?artid=A133 Urdu-Hindi Controversy \| Muslim rule, Urdu emerged as the most common language of the northwestern provinces of India.] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427090301/http://www.storyofpakistan.com/articletext.asp?artid=A133 \|date=27 April 2006 }}

	{{Aligarh}}		{{Aligarh}}

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The '''Urdu Defence Association''' was an organisation developed by [[Mohsin-ul-Mulk]], starting in 1900,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/search?q=cache:Yt-hRCT-ZQIJ:www.cssforum.com.pk/css-optional-subjects/group-e-history-subjects/indo-pak-history/14424-solved-objectives-indo-pak-past-papers-since-1985-a.html+%22Urdu+Defense+Association%22&hl=pt-PT&gl=pt|title=Solved Objectives of Indo-Pak pas papers since 1985}}</ref> for the advocacy of [[Urdu]] as the ''lingua franca'' of the [[Muslim]] community of [[India]]. The association is regarded as an offshoot of the [[Aligarh Movement]].

== Background ==
{{Aligarh Movement}}
{{Arabic-script sidebar|Persian}}
{{See also|Urdu#History|Urdu movement}}

During the last days of the Muslim rule in [[Indian Sub-continent]], Urdu (with [[Perso-Arabic script]]) emerged as the most common language of the northwestern provinces of India. Its vocabulary developed under [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]], [[Turkic languages|Turkic]], [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]], and [[Pashto language|Pashto]] influence. Urdu had taken almost 900 years to develop to its present form.<ref name="bbc-lang-urdu-1">{{cite web|url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other/guide/urdu/history.shtml| title = A brief history of Urdu|publisher = BBC|access-date = 2010-07-01}}</ref> It began taking shape during the [[Delhi Sultanate]] as well as [[Mughal Empire]] (1526–1858) in [[South Asia]]. Urdu was mainly developed in Delhi and its surrounding areas which was the seat of Royal court of the [[Indian Subcontinent]]. It also became a language of Muslim nobility. After Persian language, it was most widely used in the Mughal Royal Court. It was declared the official language, and all official records were written in this language. In 1876, some Hindus began to demand that Hindi should be made an official language in place of Urdu, and they started a movement in Banaras in which they demanded the replacement of Urdu with Hindi, and the Perso-Arabic script with the [[Devanagari]], script as the court language in the northwestern provinces. The reason for opposing Urdu was that the language was written in Persian script, which was similar to the Arabic script, and Arabic was the language of the Quran, the Holy Book of the Muslims. The movement grew quickly and within a few months spread throughout the Hindu population of the northwestern provinces of India. The headquarters of this movement were in Allahabad.

This situation provoked the Muslims to come out in order to protect the importance of the Urdu language. The opposition by the Hindus towards the Urdu language made it clear to the Muslims of the region that Hindus were not ready to tolerate the culture and traditions of the Muslims.

The [[Hindi-Urdu controversy|Urdu-Hindi controversy]] had a great effect on the life of Sir [[Syed Ahmad Khan]]. Before this event he had been a great advocate of [[Hindu-Muslim unity]] and was of the opinion that the "two nations are like two eyes of the beautiful bride, India". But this movement completely altered his point of view. He put forward the Two-Nation Theory, predicting that the differences between the two groups would increase with the passage of time and the two communities would not join together in anything wholeheartedly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://storyofpakistan.com/urdu-hindi-controversy/|title=Urdu-Hindi Controversy | Muslim rule, Urdu emerged as the most common language of the northwestern provinces of India.|date=June 1, 2003}}</ref>

== Vision of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan ==
[[File:SirSyedAhmedKhan.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Sir Syed Ahmed Khan]]

Sir [[Syed Ahmed Khan]] perceived Urdu as the ''lingua franca'' of Muslims. Having been developed by Muslim rulers of India, Urdu was used as a secondary language to Persian, the official language of the Mughal court. Since the decline of the Mughal dynasty, Sir Syed promoted the use of Urdu through his own writings. Under Sir Syed, the Scientific Society translated Western works only into Urdu. The schools established by Sir Syed imparted education in the Urdu medium. The demand for Hindi, led largely by Hindus, was to Sir Syed an erosion of the centuries-old Muslim cultural domination of India. Testifying before the British-appointed education commission, Sir Syed controversially exclaimed that "Urdu was the language of [[gentry]] and Hindi that of the vulgar." His remarks provoked a hostile response from Hindu leaders, who unified across the nation to demand the recognition of Hindi.

Khan had once stated,<ref name="ReferenceA">Hayat-i-Javed A Biographical Account of Sir Sayyid, by Hali Altaf Husain Hali, translated by Mathews David J. Qadiri K.H., published by Idarah-I-Adabiyat-I-Delli, 1979, Delhi</ref> "I look to both Hindus and Muslims with the same eyes & consider them as two eyes of a bride. By the word nation I only mean Hindus and Muslims and nothing else. We Hindus and Muslims live together on the same soil under the same government. Our interest and problems are common and therefore I consider the two factions as one nation." Speaking to Mr. Shakespeare, the governor of [[Varanasi|Banaras]], after the language controversy heated up, he said "I am now convinced that the Hindus and Muslims could never become one nation as their religion and way of life was quite distinct from one another."<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

Sir Syed later said "now I am convinced that both these communities will not join whole heartedly in anything. At present there is no open hostility between the two communities but it will increase immensely in the future."

In the last three decades of the 19th century, the controversy flared up several times in [[North-Western Provinces|North-Western provinces]] and [[Oudh]]. The Hunter commission, appointed by the Government of India to review the progress of education, was used by the advocates of both Hindi and Urdu for their respective causes.

== Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk ==
[[File:Mohsinulmulk.jpg|thumb|150px|right | Nawab Mohsin ul Mulk]]

Later the followers of Sir Syed tried their level best to save the [[Urdu]] language. Mohsin-ul-Mulk was the outstanding person who organized the Muslims in defense of Urdu. Towards the beginning of the 20th century, the Hindi-Urdu controversy again flared up in the United Provinces. Mohsin-ul-Mulk took up the pen in defense of '''[[Urdu]]''' in collaboration with the Urdu Defense Association.

Earlier, the success of the Hindi movement led Sir Syed to further advocate [[Urdu]] as the symbol of Muslim heritage and as the language of all Indian Muslims. His educational and political work grew increasingly centered on and exclusively for Muslim interests. He also sought to persuade the British to give Urdu extensive official use and patronage. His colleagues and protégés such as [[Mohsin-ul-Mulk]] and [[Maulvi Abdul Haq]] developed organisations such as the Urdu Defence Association and the [[Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu]], committed to the perpetuation of Urdu. Sir Syed's protégé [[Shibli Nomani]] led efforts that resulted in the adoption of Urdu as the official language of the [[Hyderabad State]] and as the medium of instruction in the [[Osmania University]].<ref>Muslim Politics and Leadership in the South Asian Sub-continent |publisher=Institute of Islamic History, Culture and Civilization, Islamic University (Islamabad)</ref> To Muslims in northern and western India, Urdu had become an integral part of political and cultural identity. However, the division over the use of Hindi or Urdu further provoked communal conflict between Muslims and Hindus in India.

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk's patronage of Urdu led to its widespread use amongst Indian Muslim communities and following the partition of India, its adoption as the national language of [[Pakistan]].<ref name=Dawn>{{cite web|url=https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailImage.php?StoryImage=23_05_2017_118_007 |title=National language and Pakistani languages: the only way out|author=Rauf Parekh|date=23 May 2017|newspaper=Dawn (newspaper)|access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.storyofpakistan.com/articletext.asp?artid=A133 Urdu-Hindi Controversy | Muslim rule, Urdu emerged as the most common language of the northwestern provinces of India.]

{{Aligarh}}

[[Category:Urdu]]
[[Category:Aligarh Movement]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:34, 22 March 2026
Line 8:		Line 8:
	{{See also\|Urdu#History\|Urdu movement}}		{{See also\|Urdu#History\|Urdu movement}}

	During the last days of the Muslim rule in [[Indian Sub-continent]], Urdu (with [[Perso-Arabic script]]) emerged as the most common language of the northwestern provinces of India. Its vocabulary developed under [[Persian language\|Persian]], [[Arabic language\|Arabic]], [[Turkic languages\|Turkic]], and [[Sanskrit language\|Sanskrit]] influence. Urdu had taken almost 900 years to develop to its present form.~~<~~ref name="bbc-lang-urdu-1"~~>~~{{cite web\|url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other/guide/urdu/history.shtml\|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061028013927/http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other/guide/urdu/history.shtml\|url-status = dead\|archive-date = 28 October 2006\| title = A brief history of Urdu\|publisher = BBC\|access-date = 2010-07-01}}~~<~~/ref~~>~~ It began taking shape during the [[Delhi Sultanate]] as well as [[Mughal Empire]] (1526–1858) in [[South Asia]]. Urdu was mainly developed in Delhi and its surrounding areas which was the seat of Royal court of the [[Indian subcontinent]]. It also became a language of Muslim nobility. After Persian language, it was most widely used in the Mughal Royal Court. It was declared the official language, and all official records were written in this language. In 1876, some Hindus began to demand that Hindi should be made an official language in place of Urdu, and they started a movement in Banaras in which they demanded the replacement of Urdu with Hindi, and the Perso-Arabic script with the [[Devanagari]], script as the court language in the northwestern provinces. The reason for opposing Urdu was that the language was written in Persian script, which was similar to the Arabic script, and Arabic was the language of the Quran, the Holy Book of the Muslims. The movement grew quickly and within a few months spread throughout the Hindu population of the northwestern provinces of India. The headquarters of this movement were in Allahabad.{{fact\|date=December 2022}}		During the last days of the Muslim rule in [[Indian Sub-continent]], Urdu (with [[Perso-Arabic script]]) emerged as the most common language of the northwestern provinces of India. Its vocabulary developed under [[Persian language\|Persian]], [[Arabic language\|Arabic]], [[Turkic languages\|Turkic]], and [[Sanskrit language\|Sanskrit]] influence. Urdu had taken almost 900 years to develop to its present form.<ref name="bbc-lang-urdu-1">{{cite web\|url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other/guide/urdu/history.shtml\|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061028013927/http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other/guide/urdu/history.shtml\|url-status = dead\|archive-date = 28 October 2006\| title = A brief history of Urdu\|publisher = BBC\|access-date = 2010-07-01}}</ref> It began taking shape during the [[Delhi Sultanate]] as well as [[Mughal Empire]] (1526–1858) in [[South Asia]]. Urdu was mainly developed in Delhi and its surrounding areas which was the seat of Royal court of the [[Indian subcontinent]]. It also became a language of Muslim nobility. After Persian language, it was most widely used in the Mughal Royal Court. It was declared the official language, and all official records were written in this language. In 1876, some Hindus began to demand that Hindi should be made an official language in place of Urdu, and they started a movement in Banaras in which they demanded the replacement of Urdu with Hindi, and the Perso-Arabic script with the [[Devanagari]], script as the court language in the northwestern provinces. The reason for opposing Urdu was that the language was written in Persian script, which was similar to the Arabic script, and Arabic was the language of the Quran, the Holy Book of the Muslims. The movement grew quickly and within a few months spread throughout the Hindu population of the northwestern provinces of India. The headquarters of this movement were in Allahabad.{{fact\|date=December 2022}}

	This situation provoked the Muslims to come out in order to protect the importance of the Urdu language. The opposition by the Hindus towards the Urdu language made it clear to the Muslims of the region that Hindus were not ready to tolerate the culture and traditions of the Muslims.{{fact\|date=December 2022}}		This situation provoked the Muslims to come out in order to protect the importance of the Urdu language. The opposition by the Hindus towards the Urdu language made it clear to the Muslims of the region that Hindus were not ready to tolerate the culture and traditions of the Muslims.{{fact\|date=December 2022}}

	The [[Hindi-Urdu controversy\|Urdu-Hindi controversy]] had a great effect on the life of Sir [[Syed Ahmad Khan]]. Before this event he had been a great advocate of [[Hindu-Muslim unity]] and was of the opinion that the "two nations are like two eyes of the beautiful bride, India". But this movement completely altered his point of view. He put forward the Two-Nation Theory, predicting that the differences between the two groups would increase with the passage of time and the two communities would not join together in anything wholeheartedly.~~<~~ref~~>~~{{Cite web\|url=https://storyofpakistan.com/urdu-hindi-controversy/\|title=Urdu-Hindi Controversy &#124; Muslim rule, Urdu emerged as the most common language of the northwestern provinces of India.\|date=1 June 2003}}~~<~~/ref~~>~~		The [[Hindi-Urdu controversy\|Urdu-Hindi controversy]] had a great effect on the life of Sir [[Syed Ahmad Khan]]. Before this event he had been a great advocate of [[Hindu-Muslim unity]] and was of the opinion that the "two nations are like two eyes of the beautiful bride, India". But this movement completely altered his point of view. He put forward the Two-Nation Theory, predicting that the differences between the two groups would increase with the passage of time and the two communities would not join together in anything wholeheartedly.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://storyofpakistan.com/urdu-hindi-controversy/\|title=Urdu-Hindi Controversy &#124; Muslim rule, Urdu emerged as the most common language of the northwestern provinces of India.\|date=1 June 2003}}</ref>

	== Vision of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan ==		== Vision of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan ==
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	Sir [[Syed Ahmed Khan]] perceived Urdu as the ''lingua franca'' of Muslims. Having been developed by Muslim rulers of India, Urdu was used as a secondary language to Persian, the official language of the Mughal court. Since the decline of the Mughal dynasty, Sir Syed promoted the use of Urdu through his own writings. Under Sir Syed, the Scientific Society translated Western works only into Urdu. The schools established by Sir Syed imparted education in the Urdu medium. The demand for Hindi, led largely by Hindus, was to Sir Syed an erosion of the centuries-old Muslim cultural domination of India. Testifying before the British-appointed education commission, Sir Syed controversially exclaimed that "Urdu was the language of [[gentry]] and Hindi that of the vulgar." His remarks provoked a hostile response from Hindu leaders, who unified across the nation to demand the recognition of Hindi.		Sir [[Syed Ahmed Khan]] perceived Urdu as the ''lingua franca'' of Muslims. Having been developed by Muslim rulers of India, Urdu was used as a secondary language to Persian, the official language of the Mughal court. Since the decline of the Mughal dynasty, Sir Syed promoted the use of Urdu through his own writings. Under Sir Syed, the Scientific Society translated Western works only into Urdu. The schools established by Sir Syed imparted education in the Urdu medium. The demand for Hindi, led largely by Hindus, was to Sir Syed an erosion of the centuries-old Muslim cultural domination of India. Testifying before the British-appointed education commission, Sir Syed controversially exclaimed that "Urdu was the language of [[gentry]] and Hindi that of the vulgar." His remarks provoked a hostile response from Hindu leaders, who unified across the nation to demand the recognition of Hindi.

	Khan had once stated,~~<~~ref name="ReferenceA"~~>~~Hayat-i-Javed A Biographical Account of Sir Sayyid, by Hali Altaf Husain Hali, translated by Mathews David J. Qadiri K.H., published by Idarah-I-Adabiyat-I-Delli, 1979, Delhi~~<~~/ref~~>~~ "I look to both Hindus and Muslims with the same eyes & consider them as two eyes of a bride. By the word nation I only mean Hindus and Muslims and nothing else. We Hindus and Muslims live together on the same soil under the same government. Our interest and problems are common and therefore I consider the two factions as one nation." Speaking to Mr. Shakespeare, the governor of [[Varanasi\|Banaras]], after the language controversy heated up, he said "I am now convinced that the Hindus and Muslims could never become one nation as their religion and way of life was quite distinct from one another."~~<~~ref name="ReferenceA"/~~>~~		Khan had once stated,<ref name="ReferenceA">Hayat-i-Javed A Biographical Account of Sir Sayyid, by Hali Altaf Husain Hali, translated by Mathews David J. Qadiri K.H., published by Idarah-I-Adabiyat-I-Delli, 1979, Delhi</ref> "I look to both Hindus and Muslims with the same eyes & consider them as two eyes of a bride. By the word nation I only mean Hindus and Muslims and nothing else. We Hindus and Muslims live together on the same soil under the same government. Our interest and problems are common and therefore I consider the two factions as one nation." Speaking to Mr. Shakespeare, the governor of [[Varanasi\|Banaras]], after the language controversy heated up, he said "I am now convinced that the Hindus and Muslims could never become one nation as their religion and way of life was quite distinct from one another."<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

	Sir Syed later said "now I am convinced that both these communities will not join whole heartedly in anything. At present there is no open hostility between the two communities but it will increase immensely in the future."		Sir Syed later said "now I am convinced that both these communities will not join whole heartedly in anything. At present there is no open hostility between the two communities but it will increase immensely in the future."
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	Later the followers of Sir Syed tried their level best to save the [[Urdu]] language. Mohsin-ul-Mulk was the outstanding person who organized the Muslims in defense of Urdu. Towards the beginning of the 20th century, the Hindi-Urdu controversy again flared up in the United Provinces. Mohsin-ul-Mulk took up the pen in defense of '''[[Urdu]]''' in collaboration with the Urdu Defense Association.		Later the followers of Sir Syed tried their level best to save the [[Urdu]] language. Mohsin-ul-Mulk was the outstanding person who organized the Muslims in defense of Urdu. Towards the beginning of the 20th century, the Hindi-Urdu controversy again flared up in the United Provinces. Mohsin-ul-Mulk took up the pen in defense of '''[[Urdu]]''' in collaboration with the Urdu Defense Association.

	Earlier, the success of the Hindi movement led Sir Syed to further advocate [[Urdu]] as the symbol of Muslim heritage and as the language of all Indian Muslims. His educational and political work grew increasingly centered on and exclusively for Muslim interests. He also sought to persuade the British to give Urdu extensive official use and patronage. His colleagues and protégés such as [[Mohsin-ul-Mulk]] and [[Maulvi Abdul Haq]] developed organisations such as the Urdu Defence Association and the [[Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu]], committed to the perpetuation of Urdu. Sir Syed's protégé [[Shibli Nomani]] led efforts that resulted in the adoption of Urdu as the official language of the [[Hyderabad State]] and as the medium of instruction in the [[Osmania University]].~~<~~ref~~>~~Muslim Politics and Leadership in the South Asian Sub-continent \|publisher=Institute of Islamic History, Culture and Civilization, Islamic University (Islamabad)~~<~~/ref~~>~~ To Muslims in northern and western India, Urdu had become an integral part of political and cultural identity. However, the division over the use of Hindi or Urdu further provoked communal conflict between Muslims and Hindus in India.		Earlier, the success of the Hindi movement led Sir Syed to further advocate [[Urdu]] as the symbol of Muslim heritage and as the language of all Indian Muslims. His educational and political work grew increasingly centered on and exclusively for Muslim interests. He also sought to persuade the British to give Urdu extensive official use and patronage. His colleagues and protégés such as [[Mohsin-ul-Mulk]] and [[Maulvi Abdul Haq]] developed organisations such as the Urdu Defence Association and the [[Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu]], committed to the perpetuation of Urdu. Sir Syed's protégé [[Shibli Nomani]] led efforts that resulted in the adoption of Urdu as the official language of the [[Hyderabad State]] and as the medium of instruction in the [[Osmania University]].<ref>Muslim Politics and Leadership in the South Asian Sub-continent \|publisher=Institute of Islamic History, Culture and Civilization, Islamic University (Islamabad)</ref> To Muslims in northern and western India, Urdu had become an integral part of political and cultural identity. However, the division over the use of Hindi or Urdu further provoked communal conflict between Muslims and Hindus in India.

	Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk's patronage of Urdu led to its widespread use amongst Indian Muslim communities and following the partition of India, its adoption as the national language of [[Pakistan]].~~<~~ref name=Dawn~~>~~{{cite web\|url=https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailImage.php?StoryImage=23_05_2017_118_007 \|title=National language and Pakistani languages: the only way out\|author=Rauf Parekh\|date=23 May 2017\|newspaper=Dawn (newspaper)\|access-date=1 September 2019}}~~<~~/ref~~>~~		Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk's patronage of Urdu led to its widespread use amongst Indian Muslim communities and following the partition of India, its adoption as the national language of [[Pakistan]].<ref name=Dawn>{{cite web\|url=https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailImage.php?StoryImage=23_05_2017_118_007 \|title=National language and Pakistani languages: the only way out\|author=Rauf Parekh\|date=23 May 2017\|newspaper=Dawn (newspaper)\|access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref>

	== References ==		== References ==