Emphasising the need to link study in Urdu with employment, Human Resource Development Minister M Pallam Raju today said the language should find a place in the language curriculam in schools.
At the same time, the HRD minister stressed the need for creation of job opportunities in public and private sectors for those pursuing their studies in Urdu.
"The private as well as the public schools where so many Indian languages are taught, Urdu should also find a place in the language curriculam in both the private and the public schools," Raju said on the sidelines of an international conference being held for promotion of Urdu.
"The print media, publicity corporate houses and the entertainment industry must explore the rich recources of Urdu in order to pursue their commercial and economic goals," Raju said.
Asked how the ministry plans to pursue the matter, Raju said it's a matter of choice as far as private schools are concerned.
"As far as our schools are concerned like the Kendriya Vidyalayas, we have given instructions that wherever there is a strength of 10-12 students in one language, a teacher for that language should be made available. Therefore, we are creating an opportunity," Raju said.
Echoing his sentiment, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said there is a need to explore the possibility of promoting Urdu in a way that people think it would help them in life.
Terming Urdu as a "unifying" language, Khurshid said in a lighter vein that had Urdu been spoken more in Andhra Pradesh, the issue of Andhra Pradesh bifurcation would not have cropped up.
"Urdu was spoken in one state but now it will be spoken in two states," Khurshid said.
