'Not Just A Celebration': MLAs Demand Support For Urdu Academy’s Golden Jubilee, Highlight Marathi-Urdu Cultural Bond

Muslim Members of the Legislative Assembly from different political parties came together to ask the government to support the Urdu Sahitya Academy's plans to hold its golden jubilee later this year. 

Aslam Shaikh and Amin Patel of the Congress, Sana Malik of the Nationalist Congress Party, and Rais Shaikh of the Samajwadi Party stood together to hold a banner outside the assembly building, asking for financial help.

The Urdu Sahitya Academy, founded by the Maharashtra government in 1975 to promote Urdu and to support cooperation between the language and Marathi, curtailed its activities due to a lack of adequate government funding. The institution, which has its office at Old Customs House, Horniman Circle, has been asked to vacate the place.

Following a report in the FPJ and Rais Shaikh's appeal to the government during the current session of the state assembly, the government promised not to evict the academy from its premises an alternate office is allotted to it.

"We asked for Rs ten crores for the anniversary celebrations. This is not just a celebration; it is a matter of upholding the ties between Marathi and Urdu," said Aslam Shaikh, the MLA from Malad. 

Yeh Sirf Ek Celebration Nahi, Bhasha, Virasat Aur Urdu-Marathi Sahitya Ki Izzat Ka Sawaal Hai.