On January 8, 2025, Wednesday, 72 Urdu learners of the 9th batch of the Urdu Learning Course being run by the Urdu Directorate, Bihar, Patna, under the Department of Cabinet Secretariat, were awarded certificates and mementos of the Urdu Learning Course. The Urdu Learning Certificate Distribution Ceremony was held at the Auditorium, Phanishwar Nath Renu Hindi Bhavan, near Akashwani, Chhajju Bagh, Patna. The ceremony was presided over by Arvind Kumar Choudhary, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Cabinet Secretariat, Bihar, Patna.

The special guest, Professor Ejaz Ali Arshad, former Sheikh-ul-Jamia, Maulana Mazharul Haq Arabic and Persian University, Patna, and the guest of honor, Dr. B. Rajendra, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of General Administration, Muzaffar Abadali, Chief Postmaster General, Bihar, and Arvind Kumar Verma, Special Secretary, Department of Cabinet Secretariat, Government of Bihar, Patna, were present.

The ceremony began with the lighting of the lamp. In his presidential address, Arvind Kumar Choudhary said that first of all, he would like to thank the Director of Urdu Directorate, S.M. Parvez Alam, for inviting him to this beautiful program. He said that seeing the performance of Urdu and Urdu Directorate, he feels good. He also has a connection with Urdu. He learned Urdu from a friend and has knowledge of the alphabet, etc.

Choudhary further said that he is a fan of ghazals. To understand the meaning and essence of ghazals, it is necessary to learn Urdu. He said that Urdu is the second official language of Bihar. The Government of Bihar is making every possible effort to promote and publicize this language and to reach Urdu to the new generation. Various events are organized under the Urdu Directorate for the promotion of Urdu. The memory of 22 late litterateurs and poets is celebrated. Financial assistance is provided for the publication of Urdu manuscripts. Recently, the government has restored a total of 856 assistant Urdu translators under the Urdu Directorate.

He said that at the district level, many important projects are being run. The Urdu Learners Encouragement Competition Program is organized. The district-wise Urdu newsletter is published. Seminars and mushairas are organized for the promotion of Urdu. He said that our Urdu learners have requested to link the Urdu Learning Course with an increment. He will try to make it practical.

Dr. B. Rajendra, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of General Administration, Patna, who was present as a guest of honor, expressed his thoughts and said that he would like to thank the Director of Urdu Directorate, S.M. Parvez Alam, instructor Mohammad Hamid, and others for their hard work, due to which he was able to learn Urdu in 70 days. Undoubtedly, Urdu is a beautiful, sweet, and lovely language. Through this language, we can express our thoughts, feelings, experiences, and emotions in a better way.

The Director of Urdu Directorate, S.M. Parvez Alam, welcomed all the guests, Urdu learners, and media representatives and thanked everyone for participating in the program despite their busy schedules. In his welcome address, he said that Urdu is one of the important languages of the world. It was born in India, grew up here, and flourished. This language came into existence due to social demands and necessities arising out of the interaction between people of different classes and places.

He said that in the freedom struggle, Urdu played a significant role. Urdu was not just a language of expression, but it was also a powerful means of awakening the nation, raising voice against the oppression of the English government, and organizing the freedom movement. Through newspapers and magazines, Urdu created awareness among the people.

Professor Ejaz Ali Arshad, Sheikh-ul-Jamia, Maulana Mazharul Haq Arabic and Persian University, Patna, expressed his thoughts and said that people all over the world speak different languages, and everyone speaks their mother tongue. But there are many people who have a passion for learning different languages, and for the fulfillment of this passion, you have learned this additional language. This language will increase your educational ability and will be helpful in various tasks.

Muzaffar Abadali, Chief Postmaster General, Bihar, said that no religion has a specific language. It is inappropriate to associate Urdu or Hindi with a particular religion. Whoever is born somewhere speaks the language of that place, regardless of their religion. Every person's mother tongue can be different, but having the thought of learning another language besides one's mother tongue is a big thing. We are happy that you have decided to learn the Urdu language, considering it just as a language, without any discrimination of religion or community.

Arvind Kumar Verma, Special Secretary, Department of Cabinet Secretariat, Government of Bihar, Patna, said that the Urdu language is a beautiful language, a language of love and civilization. Its pronunciation is very sweet. In the modern era, where different languages are facing threats, protecting Urdu is a big task. The responsibility of protecting it lies with all of us.

He said that it is a matter of great pleasure that people of all ages and fields are learning the Urdu language by joining the Urdu Learning Course of the Urdu Directorate. He expressed his interest in the Urdu language and said that he would also benefit from this online Urdu course. He said that he had to choose an additional language for a course in his service, so he chose Urdu. Now he will again join the Urdu Learning Course and fulfill his long-standing desire.

On this occasion, many Urdu learners, including Bhola Nath, Koshal Kumar Madhukar, Neerja Kumari, Khyalia, Archana Tripathi, Krishna Mohan Prasad, Dr. Ashwini Sharma, Dr. Tarnum Banu, Dilip Kumar Saxena, and Nasreen Bano, also expressed their thoughts.

It is worth mentioning that after completing the 70-day Urdu Learning Course, which includes learning Urdu reading, writing, and speaking with correct pronunciation, all the Urdu learners were examined, and those who passed the exam were awarded the Urdu Learning Course certificate and a memento. The program was conducted by Muhammad Hashim, and the ceremony ended with the vote of thanks by Joint Secretary Shashi Bhushan Sharma, Urdu Directorate, Patna.