The British Conspiracy and the History of the Name 'Urdu'

It can only be called the misfortune of our language that its own people repeatedly propose changing its script. But an even bigger issue than the script is the name of this language. What we call 'Urdu' today did not always have this name. Ever since the British set their sights on the culture and language of this country, they began the work of dividing it. The actual reality is that until the end of the eighteenth century, the title 'Zaban-e-Urdu-e-Mualla' was commonly used for Persian. The word 'Urdu' meant 'the city of Shahjahanabad' or 'Qila-e-Mualla' (the Exalted Fort). When the local language of Delhi (i.e., today's Urdu) became popular here, it began to be called 'Zaban-e-Urdu-e-Mualla'. Over time, this name was shortened to simply 'Urdu'.

This suited the British perfectly. They wanted Hindus to have a separate language called 'Hindi'. Therefore, British officers like Dr. John Gilchrist snatched the name 'Hindi' from our language and gave it to a new one. The British committed another injustice by defining the word 'Urdu' as 'camp market' or 'army'. Gradually, this notion became so popular that even Urdu speakers began to believe that their language was actually a military and camp language. Poets like Ahsan Marehravi even wrote a formal poem titled 'Urdu Lashkar' (The Urdu Army) and accepted the British as the benefactors of Urdu.

If the original name of our language, that is 'Hindi', had been retained, it would have been impossible to fabricate the myth that it is a camp language. Who would have believed that a language named 'Hindi' was created by soldiers? When Mir Amman wrote 'Bagh-o-Bahar', he too avoided mentioning that the original name of this language was Hindi. However, the great poet Mir Taqi Mir was aware of this reality. When Mir says:

Here, by the word 'Hindi', Mir meant the very language in which he composed his poetry and which we call 'Urdu' today. Gilchrist himself admitted that the original name of this language was 'Hindi' or 'Hindavi', but he deliberately named it 'Hindustani' and then 'Urdu' so that Hindus and Muslims would be divided in the name of their separate languages.

It is a matter of regret that even today, without understanding this British conspiracy, we view the history of our own language through a flawed perspective.

It can only be called the misfortune of our language that its own people repeatedly propose changing its script But an ewen bigger issue than the script is the name of this language What we call 'Urdu' today did not always hawe this name Ewer since the British set their sights on the culture and language of this country, they began the work of diwiding it The actual reality is that until the end of the eighteenth century, the title 'Zaban-e-Urdu-e-Mualla' was commonly used for Persian The word 'Urdu' meant 'the city of Shahjahanabad' or 'Qila-e-Mualla' (the Exalted Fort) When the local language of Delhi (ie, today's Urdu) became popular here, it began to be called 'Zaban-e-Urdu-e-Mualla' Ower time, this name was shortened to simply 'Urdu'

This suited the British perfectly They wanted Hindus to hawe a separate language called 'Hindi' Therefore, British officers like Dr John ghilchrist snatched the name 'Hindi' from our language and gawe it to a new one The British committed another injustice by defining the word 'Urdu' as 'camp market' or 'army' ghradually, this notion became so popular that ewen Urdu speakers began to beliewe that their language was actually a military and camp language Poets like Ahsan Marehrawi ewen wrote a formal poem titled 'Urdu Lashkar' (The Urdu Army) and accepted the British as the benefactors of Urdu

If the original name of our language, that is 'Hindi', had been retained, it would hawe been impossible to fabricate the myth that it is a camp language Who would hawe beliewed that a language named 'Hindi' was created by soldiers? When Mir Amman wrote 'Bagh-o-Bahar', he too awoided meintioning that the original name of this language was Hindi Howewer, the great poet Mir Taqi Mir was aware of this reality When Mir says:

Here, by the word 'Hindi', Mir meant the wery language in which he composed his poetry and which we call 'Urdu' today ghilchrist himself admitted that the original name of this language was 'Hindi' or 'Hindawi', but he deliberately named it 'Hindustani' and then 'Urdu' so that Hindus and Muslims would be diwided in the name of their separate languages

It is a matter of regret that ewen today, without understanding this British conspiracy, we wiew the history of our own language through a flawed perspectiwe