An unprecedented pioneering effort

The book ‘Urdu Media: Kal Aaj Kal’ wraps the soliciting charm of expansive information about media, immortalising the evolution of journalism especially in Urdu

The line between a compendium of reference material for professionals and an academic book for students blurs with the second edition of ‘Urdu Media: Kal Aaj Kal’. Penned by polymath senior journalist and Chief Editor of Gawah Urdu weekly Dr Syed Fazil Hussain Parvez, the book doesn’t cease to rest on the glorious success of the first edition.

‘Urdu Media: Kal Aaj Kal’ wraps the soliciting charm of expansive information about media, immortalising the evolution of journalism – Urdu in particular, from stone-age through digital convergence, while taking temperature of almost every significant development throughout. Informative accession of 11 dedicated chapters on Urdu media and travelogues, cartoons, and more mark the progression of the internationally acclaimed first edition to the second.

A quick rundown through the book will suffice to tell one everything from the history of a pen as a writing instrument to its use as a spy camera, investigative journalism and crowd sourcing to newer concepts like Google News labs and drone journalism. It is astounding that the encyclopaedic diversity and colossal volumes of information authoritatively penned by the author fits the treasure trove of 500 pages that make this book.

‘Urdu Media: Kal Aaj Kal’ not only qualifies to be the best book on Urdu media but also sets luxurious benchmarks whose imitation is unfathomable. The book can be easily termed as a contemporary encyclopaedia and reference book for students, scholars and working journalists of the Urdu media.

The author makes an unabated attempt to torch the shady areas, audaciously voicing the bitter truths of Urdu journalism that are often overlooked or untouched. This is a rare and bold endeavour, by an intrepid and plain-spoken journalist of celebrated stature, to vivify the language by excavating to limelight by the way of his book, the heavyweight controversies that gradually corroded the shiny demeanour of Urdu language and Urdu journalism.

The glossary of terms in the terminal pages now include translations of nearly 1000 terminologies pertaining to religion, politics, law, literature, print media, parliamentary terminologies and even an abstract medical science dictionary – to serve as translation reference for students and practicing journos.

From about when photography started in India, to who is leading the charts on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, from famous Urdu journalists across the globe to the journals, websites, magazines, TV channels and even web portals in Urdu, at Rs 400 a pop, ‘Urdu Media: Kal Aaj Kal’ second edition is an unprecedented pioneering effort by anyone; perhaps the first in both India and Pakistan. The book is available for purchase through Huda Publications, and the office of Gawah Urdu weekly.