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Right in front of Gate No. 1 of Jama Masjid in Old Delhi lies the long-forgotten Urdu Bazaar. This market, which was once the center of Urdu literature, is now in ruins.
Barely a few decades ago, this market was lined with bookshops, frequented by scholars and literature lovers. However, today, only a fraction of the bookstores remain.
The dusty shelves adorned with a diverse collection of Urdu books and the poor condition of the book shop are a symbol of the declining popularity of Urdu as a language.
‘Hardly 4-5 books are sold in a whole day’
Mohammad Mahfooz Alam, caretaker of Maktaba Jamia, one of the oldest surviving bookshops in the market, laments the increasing association of Urdu with a particular section of the population, namely Muslims, which is leading to a decline in interest in Urdu literature. He says:
Mohammad Mahfooz Alam, Caretaker of Maktaba Jamia.
Maktaba Jamia was established in 1922 as the publishing arm of Jamia Millia Islamia. It was established without any commercial intention, with the mission of propagating Urdu, especially among the young generation. Gradually, it transformed into a large publishing house (Maktaba Jamia Limited) known for its publications in every genre of literature.
Maktaba Jamia Limited, once a major player in Indian Urdu publishing, has only a few bookshops left, including Urdu Bazaar.
Some other bookshops in the market also tell a similar story. They are all relics of the golden age when book lovers, regardless of caste and creed, flocked to the market to read and connect with others with similar literary interests.
“Even 20 years ago, there were many bookshops here, but due to poor business many owners had to close their shops and take up other professions. Some of us are still here, hoping “That the situation may improve, although the prospects are increasingly bleak.” Alam says.
Stacks of Urdu books lie on the shelves waiting for readers who do not come.
‘Buying books is out of the question’
even book of numaFamous Essay Maktaba (Urdu journal) published by Jamia Limited is no longer in regular circulation.
Food stalls now stand where bookshops once flourished, and the love of food has replaced the thirst for the poetry of Ghalib and Faiz. People now come to Urdu Bazaar not to buy or read books but to enjoy Kebab And biryani, Bookshop owners say.
People now come to Urdu Bazaar not to buy or read books but to enjoy Kebab And biryani, Bookstore owners have a say, Alam says.
Dr. Liaquat Ali, Professor of Urdu at Indira Gandhi National Open University, believes that the absence of Urdu as a medium of instruction in schools – and the resulting ease of younger generations in using English and Hindi – is leading to the declining readership of Urdu. Tells the number.
“Even if youngsters are reading Urdu literature and poetry, they are reading it in Hindi or English,” he says.
According to Dr. Ali, another reason for the decline of the Urdu market is the increasing availability of online versions of books, which eliminates the need to buy physical copies or visit bookstores, thereby affecting book sales.
He further added, “The young generation has become so accustomed to getting everything at the click of a button that the question of personally visiting bookshops to buy books does not arise.”
Khawaja Mohammad Ekramuddin, Urdu professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, acknowledges the declining readership and highlights the decentralization of Urdu publishing.
“While the number of Urdu readership has undoubtedly seen a decline and is one of the reasons for the decline of the Urdu market, it is also true that many Urdu publishers can be found scattered across Delhi in places like Daryaganj, Okhla and Lal Quan. “Even though readership has reduced to some extent, Urdu publications continue,” he told me.
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