Non-Urdu officials at Urdu Academy

Nampally: The demand for appointment or deputation of higher officials with Urdu background at TS Urdu Academy has grown shriller with several activists and even some senior journalists voicing concern over the 'continuous neglect,' particularly after State government's declaration as the State's second official language, following bifurcation.

It has been more than a month since the controversy unfolded over the much-awaited Urdu Academy's award and list of nominees which it has declared. But the discontent is brewing amongst the Urdu lovers and those who come from the Urdu background, now openly questioning State government's intention which has promised to 'support and promote the language' in the newly formed State.

"There is no dearth amongst the higher officials or academicians within the State who have Urdu background. Urdu Academy's intention of awarding those who excelled or imparted service to the language is a welcome, but it attracted controversy entirely because of the mismanagement under higher-ups with non-Urdu background. The government failed to issue a GO and the criterion was not clear on awards, hence these half-hearted efforts landed in controversy," said a senior scribe Mir Inayath Ali.

While some others have pointed out the TS Urdu Academy which once enjoyed the government patronage has been pushed to a department of low priority in the recent months. Shafeeq Ather, a writer and activist, said that the Chief Minister who had promised to support the language after coming to power has failed to keep up his promise.

"On one hand the department is facing neglect and fund crunch because of non-release of budgetary funds, and on the other hand, it is functioning without a director or secretary. The existing chairman is nothing but rubber stamp. Even if we want to represent the matter with the CM, we cannot get appointment, that's the irony," he noted.

Some other activists referring to the practice where Urdu Academy books are published by Telugu Academy held that this reflects the sincerity on the part of authorities toward the language. "When rarely an employee of the department is from Urdu background, we cannot expect good results. It is nothing but injustice to language which is rich not only amongst Muslims lore, but Hindu and Sikhs of the subcontinent," Md Rafi, activist pointed out.