Urdu-Hindi Unity highlighted as Qaid-e-Urdu Shamim Ahmed visits East Champaran, promoting cultural harmony and shared linguistic heritage.
Calls Urdu and Hindi a shared cultural heritage, promotes linguistic harmony
Qalam Times News Network
Patna, April 30, 2026
Urdu-Hindi Unity was at the heart of Qaid-e-Urdu Shamim Ahmed’s visit to the Collectorate of Bihar’s historic East Champaran district on April 29, 2026. He was warmly received by officials and staff of the District Urdu Language Cell. Those present included ADM Sibgatullah, Deputy Election Officer Sarfaraz Nawaz, officials in charge of the Urdu Cell, Urdu translator Ghulam Rabbani, Ubaidur Rahman, JDU Minority Cell State Secretary Nisar Ahmed, and other officers.
Following a formal introduction, Qaid-e-Urdu Shamim Ahmed said in his address that language is the primary medium of human communication, and the development of one’s mother tongue strengthens the cultural foundation of any nation. Emphasizing Urdu-Hindi Unity, he described both languages as a shared cultural heritage, stating that they represent the same cultural stream and should serve as a means of unity rather than division.
Shamim Ahmed has been actively engaged for nearly three decades in promoting Indian languages, especially Urdu and Hindi. He maintains that Urdu does not belong to any particular community or religion but is a shared cultural legacy of India. In this context, he often refers to Amir Khusro, who composed poetry in Hindavi and strengthened this shared linguistic tradition. According to him, Khusro’s works clearly show that Urdu and Hindi have roots in the same cultural soil.
To further explain his position, he also cites Kabir, who used simple, popular language in his couplets to bring different sections of society closer together. According to Shamim Ahmed, Kabir’s language represents that shared tradition from which both Urdu and Hindi later evolved.
Among his notable achievements is his role in the movement to grant Urdu the status of a second official language in West Bengal, considered a significant milestone in linguistic politics. He has consistently supported the idea of granting Hindi the status of a national language and Urdu as a second national language to promote linguistic harmony across the country.
Qaid-e-Urdu Shamim Ahmed believes that Urdu and Hindi are not separate languages but two forms of the same cultural tradition. He has opposed the notion of dividing languages on the basis of religion, stating that such divisions are a product of the colonial era that weakened social harmony.
Through his speeches and public campaigns, he has consistently conveyed the message that languages unite people, and promoting Urdu and Hindi is equivalent to preserving India’s cultural heritage. He has also been making continuous efforts to expand the use of Urdu in educational institutions, literary gatherings, and at the governmental level.
In his concluding remarks, he said that removing artificial barriers between languages can strengthen national unity.
At the end of the program, the ADM and Deputy Election Officer presented Qaid-e-Urdu Shamim Ahmed with “Urdu Duniya,” “Bachchon Ki Duniya,” and “Zila Urdu Nama” as tokens of appreciation, after which the event concluded in a pleasant and cordial atmosphere.
