Urdu is our National Language. it is over 300 years old and is a mixture of number of languages such as Arabic, Persian, Turkish and some others. It played a very important role in the freedom struggle of Pakistan as it gave us our national identity. But I have to say with regret that this identity of ours is gradually fading away, and is being invaded by English Language.

It is true that English is a universal language and the need of the times, but one must have full command on one's own language before acquiring knowledge of any other language. But today's youth feels proud of the fact that they can spoke a few broken sentences in English which they have learnt with a lot of hardwork, whereas had they worked half as hard at Urdu they might have even mastered it to some extent.

Language is a medium in which we express our ideas, emotions and feelings. But the tragedy of it is that the youth of today is faced with dilemma, a confusion of the mind, for it has two languages in front of it: Urdu and English, and yet it can not express itself fully in either language. This you will notice in your everyday life, that when they start speaking in Urdu most of the people are 'bound' to include words of English during the course of a conversation. And, if they started speaking in English they would use a word or two of Urdu as well. I was watching a show on television the other day in which the male compare asked his female co-compare to say two lines completely in Urdu. Trust me, she was unable to do so, as she started her sentence with "well…….". On the third attempt, however, with much difficulty, she managed two lines completely in Urdu. Is it not better to master one language completely at a time before taking up another and of course preference should be given to the mother tongue.

If one observes carefully, one would be surprised at the measly condition of Urdu that is common to our younger generation. In a small time survey I found out that 8 out of 10 teenagers did not know counting in Urdu after 20. In another survey I found that the majority of students least favorite subject was Urdu. When asked the reason for it. The answer I got was that Urdu is too dull and difficult, wit hits never ending paraphrasing, difficult words and grammar. Well, naturally, when you open your books a week before the exams you will find it difficult, and as far as it being dull, I would like to quote G. K. Chesterton who said:

By now some of you might want to point out whether I am writing an article on Urdu, and as to why am I doing it in English? But, my answer, my friends, is that your YN isn't an Urdu magazine. And, even if it were in Urdu, I would have preferred that it be printed in English, because it is for those who wouldn't read Urdu papers, and for those who pretended that they just read English papers and books.

To sum up, we must safeguard our language. There was a time when Urdu was on the verge of extinction. It was long before the partition. The British and Hindus wanted to wipe out Urdu forever, so that the Muslims would have no identity of their own. But the Muslims worked day and night to protect their language. But today there are no British or Hindus, it is very much we our selves who are tarnishing the image of our own language. Sure, it is a part of our study syllabus; it is used in the media and entertainment: published in Urdu but that is just a routine, a mechanical process.
We do not really respect our language or value it. If you see the first book that the parents will give their child to read would be in English not in Urdu, and all their life they will encourage their children to improve their English and to read good books in English. Nobody cares about Urdu. Maybe they think since Urdu is their mother tongue, they'd learnt it any way. That point is convicting, but what is commonly seen is that the parents try to speak in English at home also, which means they want their children to learn English only. When the report card comes the parents scold their children for having done poorly in English compare to Urdu.

It is clear that English remains the more dominant and favorite language of the two. But we had got to understand one thing:

Even if we excel in it we will not become Britishers or American, we will still remain Pakistanis. Therefore it is better we change our attitude and start giving Urdu the importance it deserves being our mother tongue.