To teach Marathi, Dongri’s Urdu Markaz awaits reopening

One does not know the fate of the furniture and books at the Urdu Markaz locked since July 2016. But the people who nurtured this cultural-educational organization which ran from the one-room rented Imamwada Urdu Municipal School in Dongri since its inception in 1999 till the BMC padlocked it, citing alleged non-educational activities, are knocking at the doors of the civic body to reopen it.Engaged in bringing Marathi and Urdu closer through mushairas, kavi sammelans, Bhendi Bazaar festival, Kusum Utsav or the annual festival commemorating legendary Marathi poet, playwright and novelist Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar (1912-1919) popularly known as Kusumagraj, Marathi Diwas (February 27). The Markaz or Centre wants to run Marathi learning classes along with its usual activities. As the issue of Marathi grabs headlines again because of the state transport ministry's insistence on making knowledge of Marathi mandatory for taxi and autorickshaw drivers, organisations like the Urdu Markaz may facilitate Marathi's learning."We are a bridge between Marathi and Urdu. But now we want to run free Marathi and Urdu classes. We want to become a catalyst in the attempt to make non-Marathi speaking people speak and write functional Marathi," says Urdu Markaz's director Advocate Zubair Azmi who temporarily runs the centre from a tiny private space in the crowded Madanpura locality.A BMC official familiar with the Urdu Markaz's case told TOI that positive notes were put on the file. "Even suggestion that periodical assessment of the Centre's works will be done has been noted," said the officer. Azmi adds that BMC was "misinformed" that he carried out non-educational activities. "Education and culture are closely linked. If we invite Marathi writers, poets and singers to present their works here, is it not an education too ?," asks Fareed Khan of Urdu Caravan, an initiative to promote Urdu. "Perhaps no other organization with an Urdu name invites so many Marathi writers and poets as Urdu Markaz does," adds activist Saeed Khan, a close associate of Azmi. As the file awaits approval from BMC's education department, elected representatives, including MLAs Amin Patel and Rais Shaikh, former corporator Javed Juneja (his wife Nassima Juneja is now a corporator), and Marathi and Urdu writers want this once vibrant Centre to regain its sold form and glory."The Markaz is situated at a predominantly Urdu speaking Muslim locality. It can attract a lot of people wanting to learn Marathi. We hope the BMC officials will understand the Centre's importance and reopen it soon," says Patel. Shaikh says the civic body is positive it will repon the Centre soon.The Markaz's Urdu Marathi Sahitya Forum, recalls Manoj Varade, communication expert and former PRO at BEST, was established as a common platform for writers, poets and academicians to interact, collaborate and exchange ideas.The Markaz expanded its appeal by honouring lovers of Urdu, including many non-Muslims, with Mohsin-E-Urdu (benefactor of Urdu) Award. "I find Urdu Markaz's works extremely important as it serves as a bridge between the two languages, Marathi and Urdu. I have always maintained that Marthi is like my mother and Urdu is mausi (aunt). Both need protection and promotion and Urdu Markaz plays its role beautifully," says Mohsin-E-Urdu awardee actor-director Sachin Pilgaonkar. Urdu Marathi Tehzeeb walk is one of its activities. It held Kaifi walk in Madanpura where poet-lyricist Kaifi Azmi worked with the mazdoors. Actor and daughter of Kaifi Sahab, Shabana Azmi, joined the Kaifi walk which drew much attention.
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