JEDDAH: The Urdu Academy Jeddah recently organized Aao Urdu Seikhein (Let’s learn Urdu).

These learning programs are conducted each quarter to teach the Urdu language.

After the recitation of Holy Qur’an by Abdul Karim, a student of DPS, two young students of IISJ — Owesul-Haq and Obaidul Haq — presented Hamd (poetry in praise of Allah) followed by a Naat (poetry in praise of the Prophet, peace be upon him) presented by Khalid Husain.

“Meri Bazm Men Aao Hum Urdu Sikha Denge,” a poem, was presented by IISJ student Ibrahim Riaz. Mohammed Faheem and Aslam Afghani organized and conducted the program.

Academy President Syed Jamal Qadri in his welcome speech said: “We are advancing with positive thinking and never frustrate or agree to the views of those who always criticize and talk about Urdu’s downfall.”

Stressing the academy’s determination to spread Urdu in his home country, especially in Hyderabad, city of Urdu, he said: “Back home, we are doing our best to support the poor and deserving Urdu medium students by distributing school bags, scholarships, books. We also felicitate the topper students, teachers and headmasters of Urdu schools. Similarly, we are conducting programs like ‘Let’s Learn Urdu,’ poetry sessions, seminars, baith-baazi (poetry reciting competitions) to promote Urdu among Jeddah-based students.”

He quoted two verses of Urdu poetry — “Woh kare baat toh har baat se khushboo aaye” — Aisee boli wohi bole jissay Urdu aaye — and said a day will come when our city with Urdu speakers will be — “Kaheen pyaar, kaheen attar daan jaisa hai, humara shehar Urdu zabaan jaisa hai.”

Hashim Ali presented a paper on first Urdu-Hindawi poet Amir Khusro followed by a quiz on the poet. Tauseef Khan read out the Khabar Nama news about the achievements of Urdu students taken from various newspapers of India.

Abdul Sattar Khan presented the outdated Urdu proverbs in a humorous style.

A quiz program based on “Let’s Learn Urdu” was presented by Liaqat Ali Khan, where meanings of difficult Urdu words, idioms, matching words and incomplete verses of Urdu poetry were asked. Upon answering correctly, prizes were given instantly.

Syed Shams Quadri Mustafa briefed the audience with the help of the projector how to use Urdu script in e-mails, WhatsApp and other social media outlets.

Sami Farooqui called upon a few from the audience to speak on the given topics spontaneously for two minutes. An interesting fiction of Athar Asloobi and poems of local poet Altaf Shaheryar drew applause from the audience.

India Forum President Aijaz Khan, Khak-e-Taiba Trust chief patron Shameem Kausar, Telangana NRI Forum President Abdul Jabbar, SIBN General Secretary Ghazanfar Ali Zaki and Hasan Bayazeed of Bazm-e-Ittehad praised the Urdu promotion activities of Urdu Academy Jeddah.

Prizes were distributed among the winners by Secretary Salim Farooqui, Shaikh Ibrahim, Munawar Khan, Riaz Ahmed and Sami Farooqui.

Further, in recognition of the services for Urdu by Aslam Afghani, Sami Farooqui and Liaqat Ali Khan, plaques of appreciation were presented by Jamal Qadri.

The program was organized in coordination with Aslam Afghani, Mohammed Liakath Ali Khan, Shaikh Ibrahim, Rifat Siddiqui, Abdul Sattar, Saif Qadri and Fouad Anwar, and concluded with a vote of thanks by Secretary Saleem Farooqui.