'Learn Arabic... language isn't a barrier but door to treasures of knowledge'

Abdul Samad Samadani,scholar-politician

 Urging expats to learn Arabic, an Indian scholar-politician said language isn't a barrier but a door to various treasures of knowledge. Two-time Rajya Sabha member, the Upper House of Indian parliament, Abdul Samad Samadani was in Abu Dhabi to mark Urdu Day organised by Indian Islamic Centre on Thursday night.
"More Indians can learn Arabic. I have many Hindu and Christian friends who speak very good Arabic due to their Gulf connections either with profession or business engagements," Samadani said in a candid chat with Khaleej Times.
The present national secretary of Indian Union Muslim League talked about the traditional Indian languages of Urdu and Sanskrit - both of which are losing followers over the years. He backed the notion that Urdu and Sanskrit should be pushed as third language in schools across India and that Arabic will also be a good optional language.
"Urdu is a symbol of every kind of pluralism, which we need in our present world scenario. People should live together - various religions, cultures and languages have to coexist peacefully and harmoniously."
Does religion influence a language? "There will be certain religious influences in every language. Arabic has a close relation with Islam, its culture and thought. It is the language of the Holy Quran but it doesn't mean it a language of Muslims alone," he said noting that Khalil Gibran, who wrote The Prophet, wasn't a Muslim.
"Likewise Sanskrit, language of India and one of the mother languages of the world, has a close connection with Hindu thought. India is a land of Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas and Smriti, all of this in Sanskrit. This doesn't make Sanskrit a sectarian language. Sanskrit, like every other, is a language of humanity."
But in India, choice of languages seems to be related to religion?
"Urdu is a symbol of linguistic, cultural and religious pluralism. It was the language of struggle for independence. Urdu is a language of Hindu-Muslim harmony and relationship, and relevant today. Some people have a misunderstanding that language belongs to some sections or religion. It's a gross misunderstanding and a cultural prejudice. Every language is an asset of humanity. Urdu is tongue of national integration for Indians, wherever they live," said Samadani, who is also the president of Anjuman Tarqie Urdu, Kerala branch.
When told that speaking Sanskrit is seen as supporting right-wing views and Urdu backers as pro-Pakistan, he said: "This kind of sectarian view, from whichever quarter it may come, is against the very interest of humanity. It is happening as a result of cultural prejudice and parochialism with which no nation can go forward. Many unhappy things are happening in the world due to misunderstandings about religion. The followers of every religion are not thorough with their basic texts. They first need to learn and then their mind will be made wide and outlook will be different. And then sectarian views will disappear. Only through knowledge can we fight sectarianism, communalism and extremism."
Why is there a lack of intent to promote language events anywhere? And what should be done to promote these languages?
"Nowadays, people don't care about language. There is a lack of understating in this respect. Language has to be an integral part of education. There is a needed focus on science and information technology subjects. Language is very basis of culture and civilisation. Every civilisation has flourished from some kind of linguistic background - Arabian, Egyptian, Chinese, Mesopotamian and Indian. This is not just related with our past but at present too people cannot succeed in any professional without language skills. People from Kerala have succeeded in the Gulf region due to proficiency in many languages. Language is a vehicle of progress," Samadani added.