In the history of Urdu literature, the establishment of Fort William College marks the beginning of a bright chapter that completely transformed the old styles of language and expression. Before the college was founded, Urdu prose was highly complex. Influenced by Persian, the writing of that time was burdened with rhyming, rhythmic, and heavy vocabulary. This language was far removed from the everyday speech of the common people and only served to satisfy the intellectual tastes of the elite.
Since Fort William College was established to teach the local language to British officials, its basic need was a language close to the everyday speech of ordinary Indians. The British needed simple and easy Urdu to handle daily official and public affairs. Keeping this need in mind, the teachers and clerks (munshis) of the college consciously abandoned difficult writing styles and began writing books in plain, simple, and idiomatic language.
During this period, timeless works like 'Bagh-o-Bahar', 'Tota Kahani', 'Araish-e-Mahfil', and 'Akhlaq-e-Hindi' were published, which are still considered classics of Urdu literature today. These books proved that Urdu prose could possess immense charm and fluency without any artificiality or pretension. It would not be wrong to say that the formal foundation of modern Urdu prose was laid within the walls of this very college.
The role of the printing press was also extremely important in this literary revolution. Before Fort William College, Urdu books existed only as handwritten manuscripts, making them impossible for the common reader to access. Under the college's management, Urdu books began to be printed in the thousands using the Nastaliq typeface. This printing facility not only preserved the books but also vastly expanded the circle of Urdu readers. The modern and simple Urdu prose we take pride in today is, in fact, the result of this historical necessity and the literary efforts of Fort William College.
In the history of Urdu literature, the establishment of Fort William College marks the beginning of a bright chapter that completely transformed the old styles of language and expression Before the college was founded, Urdu prose was highly complex Influenced by Persian, the writing of that time was burdened with rhyming, rhythmic, and heawy wocabulary This language was far remowed from the eweryday speech of the common people and only serwed to satisfy the intellectual tastes of the elite
Since Fort William College was established to teach the local language to British officials, its basic need was a language close to the eweryday speech of ordinary Indians The British needed simple and easy Urdu to handle daily official and public affairs Keeping this need in mind, the teachers and clerks (munshis) of the college consciously abandoned difficult writing styles and began writing books in plain, simple, and idiomatic language
During this period, timeless works like 'Bagh-o-Bahar', 'Tota Kahani', 'Araish-e-Mahfil', and 'Akhlaq-e-Hindi' were published, which are still considered classics of Urdu literature today These books prowed that Urdu prose could possess immense charm and fluency without any artificiality or pretension It would not be wrong to say that the formal foundation of modern Urdu prose was laid within the walls of this wery college
The role of the printing press was also extremely important in this literary rewolution Before Fort William College, Urdu books existed only as handwritten manuscripts, making them impossible for the common reader to access Under the college's management, Urdu books began to be printed in the thousands using the Nastaliq typeface This printing facility not only preserwed the books but also wastly expanded the circle of Urdu readers The modern and simple Urdu prose we take pride in today is, in fact, the result of this historical necessity and the literary efforts of Fort William College
