Book launch: Writers for promoting endangered languages

Homogenous technological world is not conducive to verbal and literary diversity.

ISLAMABAD:

Writers and poets at a literary event expressed their concern over the decline in the number of people speaking native languages and dialects.

Every year the world sees about 2,500 languages reach extinction as native speakers do not work for the continuation of their mother tongue from generation to generation, they said while speaking at the launch of five books at the National Language Authority on Monday.

In addition, they said the fast-paced and homogenous technological world of today is not conducive to verbal and literary diversity.

The books launched covered a wide academic spectrum from the importance and decay of the Urdu language to socio-political dynamics of Pakistan. Sulaiman Athar’s book ‘Saanwi zubaan se Urdu ki tadrees’ (Teaching Urdu as a second language), “is not only a reflection of the languages spoken in Pakistan,
but also a means to keep the language alive forever,” said the author.

Riffat Iqbal’s ‘Urdu adab mein kharadfarozi aur roshan khayali ki rawayat’ (Individualism and liberalism in Urdu literature) is a study on the rising trend of liberalism in today’s times, particularly in literature. “I like to use stream of consciousness while writing about the present as it gives a sense of urgency to my work,” the author said while talking to The Express Tribune.

Bazga Qandeel identifies and analyses the less desirable qualities of humans such as impatience, selfishness and ingratitude in the novel, “Mein fitrat-i-ansani ke zawaal le tumsilaat” (Fall from virtue). “It is important to understand our virtues and vices,” he commented.

Reiterating the theme of primal emotions in man, Saeed Ahmed’s book ‘Dastaan-e-hawanaat: Urdu dastaanon mein hawanaat ki allamti haisiat’ (Allegorical references to wild animals in Urdu stories). The author shared that he drew parallels between man and wild creatures in literature.

Ministry of Integration and Heritage Chairman Asif Ghafoor likened the preservation and production of books to a jihad, as it was an honourable but tough endeavour to take on in the present times.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2012.