Hamid Ansari concerned over Urdu`s declining popularity

Ansari expressed concern over the declining popularity of Urdu in the country, saying that it is less associated with people`s daily life.

New Delhi: Vice President Hamid Ansari Saturday expressed concern over the declining popularity of Urdu in the country, saying that it is less associated with people`s daily life.

"A language declines when it is not related to normal pursuits of life. Linking language with politics can create totally unrelated problems as we have seen that in case of Urdu," Ansari said while releasing a book "Justice with Urdu" by Press council of India chairman and former apex court judge, Markandey Katju. "According to the Census of India 2001, there were a total of 51.5 million Urdu speakers in the country, amounting to 5.01 percent of population and constituting the sixth largest language group. However, the number of Urdu speaking people is progressively declining in the country," he said. He said that Urdu has been able to survive in the country because of its intrinsic strength. Speaking on the occasion, Katju said: "The book is a product of deep distress in my heart for many years which was caused by great injustice done to Urdu in the country." IANS