Hyderabad: It was a celebration with a conscience on Saturday as Telangana Government Advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir delivered a stirring address at the Urdu Journalist Awards, hosted by the Telangana Urdu Working Journalists Federation (TUWJF) at the Basheerbagh Press Club. While honoring the tireless work of Urdu journalists, Shabbir didn’t shy away from confronting the cultural and institutional erosion facing the language.
Addressing a room full of media professionals, editors, and civil society leaders, Shabbir Ali called the commitment of Urdu journalists “a powerful act of resistance.” He said, “At a time when both the state and society seem to be retreating from Urdu, you’ve stood your ground. My heartfelt congratulations to each one of you.”
Shabbir Ali spoke candidly about the language’s fading presence in public life. “Urdu hasn’t just been sidelined in policy—it’s disappearing from daily function,” he said, citing the example of a local mandal where, out of 450 applications, only 17 were submitted in Urdu. “Even tehsil offices treat Urdu like a ghost language.”
He shared a personal moment from his political career, recalling his first oath-taking as a minister in 1989. Wanting to take the oath in Urdu, Shabbir Ali discovered no Urdu version was available. It took senior journalist M.A. Majid to handwrite a translated copy from English, which he then used. “If we don’t assert our rights, who will?” he asked the crowd.
Criticism was also directed at the growing disconnect between Urdu educators and the language itself. Shabbir Ali expressed concern that many Urdu teachers were opting to send their own children to English or Telugu medium schools. “What future can Urdu have if its own custodians turn away from it?” he asked. “That’s not just neglect. It is betrayal,” he said.
Strongly condemning the Pakistan-sponsored Pahalgam terrorist attack, he said India’s response through Operation Sindoor is fully justified. He said Indian Muslims, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, have always condemned terrorism and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the nation. He praised the Indian armed forces and urged that religious, linguistic, and regional differences should never be allowed to fracture national unity.
More than a lament, his speech was a rallying cry. He called on the community to rise above emotional rhetoric and invest in education, critical thinking, and strong leadership. “We have to reset our mindset,” he said. “How we raise our kids, the language we use, the way we carry ourselves—it all matters. Urdu isn’t just a language. It’s part of our cultural and national DNA.”
The event saw participation from several senior Urdu media professionals and was attended by AIMIM President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, TUWJF President M.A. Majid, and other prominent figures. Shabbir praised the organisers for putting together what he described as a “deeply meaningful and timely” event.