urdu hai jiska naam

The Vessel collaborated with Karvaan India to host a six weekend course that helps one learn, using a blend of technology, literature and cinema, to read and write the celebrated language of Urdu. The course began with charting a brief history of the Urdu Language with its beginnings in Khariboli and Farsi, its development in the Deccan as Dakhani and it becoming the classical language of the mughal court as Urdu-e-Moalla.

Poems and writings of important poets and writers from the 1200’s to the present who have contributed to the flowering of the language were discussed. In the subsequent sessions the participants were introduced to the alphabets were gradually taught how transformations occur when the alphabets are joined together. They were introduced to the grammar of the language and given tips to develop their own vocabulary.

Towards the end of the course participants were able to read short pieces of poetry and prose. Some were even able to compose their own pieces of poetry and present it to the group. The learning was made fun through interactive dialogue, references to cinema and short personal anecdotes that the participants shared with each other.

Tanzil Rahman is a poet and an entrepreneur based in New Delhi. He is the co-founder of Karvaan and facilitates an Urdu learning program at Karvaan. Professionally he runs a consulting firm named Stepping Cloud and is an alumnus of AMU and IIM Bangalore.

Zeeshan Asrar has been a student of literature. He completed his studies from Nadwat-ul-Ulama, Lucknow. Professionally he teaches english to graduates who have had a madrasa education. His proficiency in both Urdu and English makes him most suitable to coordinate the workshop especially the parts that deal with alphabets, pronunciation and language.

Zeeshan has collaborated with Karvaan to conduct the Urdu Hai Jiska Naam workshop alongwith Tanzil Rahman for more than ten batches. He provides individual attention to every student and ensures that all the students acquire the basic skills of reading and writing by the end of course.

Session 1: A brief history of the Urdu Language

• Urdu- A historical perspective

• Key Stages in the development of the Urdu

• Important writers and poets who have contributed to the development of the language

• Reading together and understanding some poems by these poets

• Preliminary introduction to Urdu Alphabets and Phonetics

Session 2: Understanding the Alphabet

• Understanding each alphabet in detail

• Recognizing the sounds associated with each alphabet 

• Examples of use of the alphabet in different words and different contexts

• Recognizing how the shape of the alphabet transforms when it joins with other alphabets

• Some basic rules of joining alphabets

Session 3: Begin to Read

• Practice reading words and getting the pronunciation right

• Gradually moving from reading words to sentences to short paragraphs

• Through question and answer ensuring that each student has grasped the fundamental concepts

Session 4: Understanding the Urdu Grammar 

• Key elements of Urdu Grammar

• Singular / Plural

• Masculine / Feminine 

• Noun, Verb, Adjective

• Tips for reading

• Technology aids for writing – virtual keyboards – Transliteration / Audio

• Assignment – Reading Practice

Session 5: Reading Comprehension – Pieces from Urdu Literature

• Reading selected pieces from short stories / poems / satire

• Reviewing Common pronunciation issues 

• Write what you read 

Session 6: Write and recite your own song 

 • Situational Song Writing 

• Recite what you wrote

• Recommended Readings