Javed Akhtar with Pervaiz Alam on Why Urdu and Hindi Are Two Sisters | Sunday Special

Javed Akhtar with Pervaiz Alam on Why Urdu and Hindi Are Two Sisters | Sunday Special . Javed Akhtar was handed the topic of the Urdu script problem. He opened by saying there is no problem with the script at all. In this Jashn-e-Rekhta session, Javed Akhtar sits with journalist Pervaiz Alam, former BBC Hindi broadcaster, for a sharp conversation on the Rasm-ul-Khat debate. His central point is simple. Script and language are not the same thing. Punjabi is written in three scripts and stays Punjabi. English, French and German all use the Roman script, yet none of them is Latin. What makes a language is its grammar, and Hindi and Urdu share the exact same grammar, a bond he calls unprecedented. He takes apart the idea that Urdu is foreign or that it belongs to one religion, pointing to Bangladesh, Kazi Nazrul Islam and the everyday words no Hindi dictionary can do without. He talks about the shrinking vocabulary in films and daily speech, the class snobbery around speaking your own language well, and the warning of Turkey, where switching scripts cut a generation off from its own manuscripts. By the end he makes his real case. Keep all three scripts alive, Nastaliq, Devanagari and Roman, but never let the Urdu script be quietly dropped. He closes with a recitation of his nazm Zindagi. . Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to the Script Debate 04:05 - Is there a problem with the Urdu Script? 05:55 - Misconceptions about Urdu as a Foreign Language 08:33 - The Unique Relationship between Hindi and Urdu 10:07 - Script vs. Grammar: What defines a Language? 15:03 - Indian Languages written in Roman Script 16:43 - The History of Persian Script in India 21:54 - How Oxford Dictionary adopts Hindi/Urdu Words 22:50 - Evolution of Language in Bollywood Cinema 25:13 - The Myth of Urdu being a "Muslim Language" 29:08 - Language Crisis in Modern Society 31:30 - Accessibility: Urdu Poetry in Devnagri & Roman 34:55 - The Digital Preservation of Urdu (Rekhta) 38:15 - Common Errors in Pronunciation 44:00 - Javed Akhtar Recites "Zindagi Zindagi" 46:45 - Preserving Script for Future Generations 52:30 - Lessons from Turkey’s Script Change 57:12 - Closing Thoughts on Hindi-Urdu Unity . About Jashn-e-Rekhta Jashn-e-Rekhta is the world’s largest cultural festival celebrating the beauty, depth, and living spirit of the Urdu language. Held annually, it brings together poets, musicians, writers, thinkers, and artists from across the world to create a space of poetry, music, conversations, and storytelling. From soul-stirring mushairas and spellbinding musical evenings to intimate dialogues and immersive cultural experiences, the festival is where language turns into emotion and heritage finds a contemporary voice. More than a festival, Jashn-e-Rekhta is a movement that keeps Urdu alive, relevant, and deeply connected across generations. . #javedakhtar #jashnerekhta #urdulanguage #rasmulkhat #urduhindi #pervaizalam #urdupoetry . About Rekhta Foundation: Rekhta Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation committed to preserving, promoting, and celebrating the Urdu language and its rich literary and cultural legacy. Through digital archives, learning platforms, publications, festivals, and community initiatives, the Foundation works to make Urdu accessible and meaningful for audiences worldwide. By bridging classical traditions with modern platforms and voices, Rekhta Foundation ensures that the language continues to inspire, connect, and evolve with time. . IMPORTANT COPYRIGHT NOTICE © Rekhta Foundation. All rights reserved. Unauthorised downloading, clipping, re-uploading, or reuse of this content (audio/video/visuals) is strictly prohibited without written permission. . External Links: Website: https://rekhta.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jashnerekhtaofficial/ Rekhta Books: https://rekhtabooks.com/ Rekhta Learning: https://rekhtalearning.com/