Urdu is a bridge that connects millions of people in Pakistan, India, and beyond, and it is known for its richness in poetry, literature, and linguistic diversity. From its origins to its present-day usage, Urdu has played a vital role in shaping the culture, literature, and identity of South Asia. This article will explore the historical evolution, linguistic features, geographical distribution, and cultural significance of the Urdu language.

Language Family

Urdu is a member of the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is closely related to Hindi, with both languages often referred to as the Hindustani language when considered in their spoken forms. However, Urdu is distinguished by its extensive use of Persian, Arabic, and Turkish vocabulary and the Perso-Arabic script. While Hindi is written in the Devanagari script and has more Sanskrit-derived vocabulary, Urdu uses the Nastaʿlīq script, which is a variant of the Perso-Arabic script.

Urdu is thus a hybrid language, developed through the interaction of Indo-Aryan languages spoken by the native people of the Indian subcontinent and the linguistic and cultural influences brought in by the Persian-speaking Mughal rulers, Turkish invaders, and Arab scholars. Over time, Urdu evolved as a distinct language, particularly under the Mughal Empire (1526–1857), which encouraged the use of Persian as the court language and contributed significantly to Urdu’s lexical richness.

Geographic Distribution and Number of Speakers

Urdu is spoken by millions of people across the world, particularly in South Asia. The language has a deep-rooted presence in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, with large diasporic communities across the globe.

1. Pakistan

• Urdu is the national language and serves as the lingua franca of Pakistan. While it is not the mother tongue of the majority of Pakistan’s population, it is understood and spoken by almost the entire population. Over 70 million people speak Urdu as a first or second language in Pakistan, making it the most widely spoken language in the country.

2. India

• In India, Urdu is one of the 22 scheduled languages and is spoken by approximately 50 million people as their first language. It is predominantly spoken in the northern states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Telangana, and it has official status in the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. India also has a large Urdu-speaking diaspora, particularly among the Muslim community.

3. Global Distribution

• Urdu has a significant presence in countries with large South Asian diasporas, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the Gulf countries, and Saudi Arabia. These communities maintain the use of Urdu in social, religious, and cultural contexts, contributing to the spread of Urdu language and culture worldwide.

Brief History of the Urdu Language

The history of the Urdu language is deeply entwined with the history of the Indian subcontinent, particularly the period of Muslim rule, starting with the Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526) and later the Mughal Empire (1526–1857).

1. Early Development: Indo-Aryan and Persian Influences

• Urdu originated as a contact language (also known as lingua franca) in the Indian subcontinent, when the Turkish-speaking Mughal invaders and Persian-speaking rulers interacted with the local Indian population, who primarily spoke Prakrit-based languages such as Hindi and Bhojpuri.

• During this period, the language began to incorporate a significant amount of Persian, Arabic, and Turkish vocabulary, as well as elements of Islamic culture and religion. The result was a distinct form of Hindustani, which would later be classified as Urdu.

2. Mughal Empire and the Birth of Classical Urdu

• The Mughal Empire played a key role in the development of Urdu. Under the Mughals, Persian became the court language, and it greatly influenced the vocabulary of Urdu, particularly in literature, poetry, and administration. As Persian poetry flourished, Urdu began to emerge as a language of literature, culture, and high society.

• The classical era of Urdu poetry can be traced back to poets like Mirza Ghalib, Allama Iqbal, and Mir Taqi Mir, who made significant contributions to the language’s development and enriched its literary tradition.

3. British Colonial Period and the Evolution of Urdu

• During British colonial rule in the 19th century, the Urdu language saw both strengthening and challenges. On the one hand, British policies led to the standardization of Urdu and Hindi as distinct languages, particularly with the rise of the Hindustani debate in the late 19th century.

• On the other hand, British attempts to promote Hindi as a language of nationalism led to the creation of the Urdu-Hindi controversy, which saw Urdu identified with Muslims and Hindi with Hindus, further embedding Urdu’s association with Islam and its Perso-Arabic script.

4. Post-Independence Era and National Language Status

• After the partition of India in 1947, Urdu became the national language of Pakistan, where it was promoted as a symbol of unity for the newly formed state. In India, Urdu remained one of the official languages and continued to be spoken by millions, particularly in Muslim-majority regions.

• Today, Urdu continues to flourish in Pakistan and parts of India, with continued cultural and literary importance across the subcontinent.

Derived Languages and Dialects

Urdu has given rise to several regional dialects and varieties, which often reflect local cultural and linguistic influences.

1. Dakhni (Deccan Urdu)

• Dakhni, or Deccan Urdu, is a dialect spoken in the Deccan region of India, particularly in Hyderabad. This dialect blends Urdu with Kannada, Marathi, and Telugu elements, and it has a distinct phonetic and lexical quality.

2. Rekhta

• Rekhta is the classical form of Urdu poetry, which combines elements of Persian, Arabic, and Hindi. It was widely used in the 17th and 18th centuries for composing ghazals and other forms of poetry.

Writing System

Urdu is written in a modified version of the Persian script, known as Nastaʿlīq, which is a cursive script that reads from right to left. The script consists of 38 letters and is closely related to the Arabic script, although it has additional letters to accommodate the phonemes unique to Urdu.

The Nastaʿlīq script is a key feature of Urdu’s cultural identity, particularly in poetry and calligraphy, where its flowing, elegant form is admired.