Urdu AcademyUnder the Department of Art Culture and Language of Delhi Govt lots of Language Academy are running. Delhi Legislative Assembly had passed Delhi Official Language Bill 2000 giving Urdu language as the status of IInd official language of Delhi. Urdu Academy has been playing a catalytic role in the promotion of the lingual, literary and cultural activities in Urdu world.

Urdu Academy is engaged in the promotion, propagation & development of Urdu Language and Literature in Delhi. With a view to promote Urdu lingual culture and encourage exchange of ideas and experiences, it organises Seminars, Mushaira, Cultural programmes etc. at various occasions. It provides financial assistance to publish creative writing for the needy Urdu writers. Under educational and training programme, it provides scholarship to Urdu students and supplies books to Urdu medium schools and libraries.

Urdu Language was born out of the Indian soil. Urdu poetry, in a great measure, inspired millions to make sacrifices in the long drawn out freedom struggle and it remained most popular language for centuries together.

Activities of Urdu Academy can be broadly classified in the following categories:-

1. Publication of books, journals and translation of books etc.
2. Research Work.
3. Seminars, Drama Festival, Financial Assistance to Literary & Cultural Organisations
4. Award & Prizes for literary excellence Financial Assistance to aged needy Writers/Poets and their dependents.
5. Mushaira
6. Development of Urdu Language
7. Promotion and propagattion of literary activities
8. Teaching Scheme.
9. To organise programmes with other language Academics.
10. Adult Education.
11. Estabilishment of Library

Schemes

Monthly Magazines
The Urdu Academy brings out two monthly periodicals titled “Aiwan-e-Urdu” and “Bachchon Ka Mahanama Umang”. Publication of these magazines was started in 1987. Now, about 15000 copies of both magazines are circulated every month. Articles and items for these magazines are received from the various writers, poets, cartoonists of Delhi and other parts of country. This is a regular feature. Academy also brings out special numbers on different occasions. These magazines are sold at a subsidized rate. The subsidized rates of “Aiwan-e-Urdu Delhi” and “Bachchon Ka Mahnama Umang” are Rs. 7/- & Rs. 5/- per copy and annual subscription is Rs. 80/- & Rs. 50/- respectively.

Publication
Urdu Academy publishes new books every year on various subjects viz. History and Culture of Delhi, come out of symposia/seminars, Books on great personalities, Children literature and a lot of reference books. Some out of print books have been edited afresh by the Academy, subject to their demand. These books are sold at subsidized rates. Academy also undertakes the work of translation of Classic Books from other languages into Urdu. In addition, Academy is the Sole Distributor of N.C.E.R.T.’s Urdu Text Books for North India.

Publication Subsidy for Authors
With the introduction of electronic media, the habit of reading books is dwindling in general and Urdu language in particular. It is becoming increasingly difficult to market books on creative literature. This is a scheme for those writers who are not financially sound. Academy extends financial assistance to writers for publishing their creative literature. The applications are invited from prospective writers alongwith manuscripts which are scrutinized by experts.. Financial assistance is granted to a tune of Rs.15,000/- or 85% of the cost of publication which ever is less.

Book Fair
The Academy is a renowned publishing house also. The Academy has published more than 106 titles so far. For the promotion of language and sale of books, it is necessary to participate in the Book Fairs which are organised in all over India from time to time. This is a regular feature. The Academy participate in World Book Fair, Delhi Book Fair and Urdu Book Fair etc. in all over the country.

Scholarship to Ph.D. Scholars
The Academy gives Scholarship to those Research Scholars who opt their subject related to any aspect of literary and urdu cultural life of Delhi for Ph.D. The topics for their research work are also restricted to delhi. However, if the topic is of all india character, Delhi should be one of the main subject for the research. These candidates are selected from the 3 Universities of Delhi. This academy invites applications from all the 3 Universities and on the basis of attestation by the concerned Head of Department of the Universities and after taking interviews of these candidates by the Research and Publication Sub Committee members, one person from each University is selected for providing scholarship.The value of Scholarship is Rs.1,000/- each per month for 36 months.

Financial Assistance to Research Scholars for Typing etc.
The Academy provides financial assistance to scholars for typing their Ph.D. thesis and M. Phil dissertations of Research work to each student. The financial assistance for typing is granted to a tune of Rs.3,000/- and Rs.1000/- to Ph.D. and M. Phil students respectively or the actual expenditure on typing whichever is less, to each student. There is no limit for number of students to whom this financial assistance is to be provided. This financial assistance is given to all applicants who furnish their Ph. D. thesis and M. Phil dissertation duly attested by the Head of Department and Supervisors.

Seminar
The Academy has made a significant contribution towards creating a mass conciousness among the masses by holding seminars and literary get-together on various subjects and personalities. The proceedings of these seminars are published by the academy for the benefit of Scholars and Research Workers and associates.

Nai Puraney Chiragh
Every year, Academy organises a three day literary gathering in which Urdu Poets and scholars(Seniors and Juniors) present their papers, short-stories and poems. This is a very very popular programme in which upcoming writers, poets, scholars get opportunity to present their calibre.

Urdu Drama Festival/Children’s Theatre Workshop
To depict the composite lingual culture of Delhi, Urdu Academy started Urdu Drama Festival in the year 1988. The Academy stages Urdu Dramas in Urdu Drama Festival every year. More and more drama troupes are coming forward now to stage Urdu Drama on a variety of topics such as social inequality, students problems, terrorism, the old culture of Delhi etc. Academy also conducts its own Theatre Workshop for Children every year.

Financial Assistance to Literary and Cultural Organisations
The Academy has a scheme to provide financial assistance to Literary, Social and Cultural Organisations(NGOs) for organising Mushairas, Qawwalis, Ghazal Programmes and other Literary Evenings, Release of Books etc. in Delhi. This assistance is provided to the organisations in the shape of booking of auditorium, or providing of artists or printing of invitation cards or posters.

Annual Award
The Academy honours writers, poets and journalists of Delhi for their outstanding contribution in the promotion and development of Urdu language and literature. The Academy give away 10 Annual Awards to the prominent, literary personalities of Urdu World out of these 10 one award is on All India basis. The Chairperson, Urdu Academy, finally approves names of such personalities. Each award carries a prescribed amount as under:-

S.No аа аName of Award аа аAmount
1. аа аAll India Bahadur Shah Zafar Award аа аRs.1,11,111/-
2. аа аAward for Research & Criticism аа ааа аRs. 21,000/-
3. аа аAward for Creative Writing аа ааа аRs. 21,000/-
4. аа аAward for Urdu Poetry аа ааа ааа аRs. 21,000/-
5. аа аAward for Urdu Journalism аа ааа аRs. 21,000/-
6. аа аAward for Best Teacher аа ааа ааа аRs. 21,000/-
7. аа аAward for Science Literature (Urdu) аа аRs. 11,000/-
8. аа аAward for Electronic Media (Urdu) аа ааа аRs. 11,000/-
9. аа аAward for Urdu Calligraphy аа ааа аRs. 11,000/-
10. аа аAward for Children Literature аа ааа аRs. 11,000/-

Prizes on books
The Academy gives prizes on books to writers and publishers. The Academy invites books from the writers and publishers published in a particular year and sends them to the experts for their vetting. Their reports are placed before the Award Sub Committee. There are approximately 20/25 prizes. Each prize carries a prescribed amount as under:-
1. аа аIst Prize аа аRs.5,100/-
2. аа аIInd Prize аа аRs.2,500/-

An Award entitled “Munshi Nawal Kishore Award” of Rs.5,100/- each is given to two Best Publishers of the year.

Pension
The Academy provides monthly financial assistance to old and needy writers or their nearest dependent relatives also. Each pensioner get a Pension of Rs.1000/- per month. Names of the Pensioners are selected in the concerned Sub Committee.

Mushairas
In order to preserve and promote the rich literary, composite and cultural heritage of Urdu language. The Academy organises Mushairas. Mushaira is one of the big events organised by this Academy. Under this scheme there are 4 major Mushairas i.e. “Republic Day Mushaira” , “Independence Day Mushaira”, “Teachers’ Day Mushaira” and “Khawateen Ka Mushaira”. All these Mushairas are big events. Poets are paid remuneration at the rates approved by the concerned Sub Committee from time to time. Poets who participate in the Republic Day Mushaira get the remuneration approved by the Govt. of Delhi. Names and number of poets for this Mushaira is decided by the Sub Committee.

Scholarship and Prizes to Urdu students
The Academy provides scholarships to the topper students of Urdu of Govt./Govt. Aided/Govt. Recognized Urdu Medium Schools or who have opted Urdu as a subject. The Academy invites the names of toppers from Class IV to M.A. from various Schools, Colleges and Universities and accordingly distributes the prizes. The Academy gives away the Scholarships and Prizes along with the certificate and memento to the toppers of Primary level to University level as detailed under:-

Scholarships from Class IV to XI
Classes IV & V Toppers аа аRs.800/-
Classes VI & VII Toppers аа аRs.1000/-
Classes VIII & IX Toppers аа аRs.1200/-
Classes X & XI Toppers аа аRs.1500/-

Toppers of Universities and CBSE,& Other Boards of Delhi

Ist Position аа аIInd Position аа аIIIrd Position
Secondary аа аRs.1000/- аа аRs.750/- аа аRs.500/-
Sr. Secondary аа аRs.1000/- аа аRs.750/- аа аRs.500/-
B.Ed. аа аRs.1000/- аа аRs.750/- аа аRs.600/-
B.A.(Hons. & Pass аа аRs.1000/- аа аRs.750/- аа аRs.600/-
M.A.(Urdu) аа аRs.1500/- аа аRs.1000/- аа аRs.750/-

Educational Competitions and Prizes
Every year Urdu Academy organizes Educational Competition such as “Essay Writing”, “Debate”, “Quiz Context”, “Qawwali”, “Ghazal” and “Umang Painting Competition” etc. for the students of Primary to Sr. Secondary level of Delhi. About 2000 students participate in these competitions and about 350 students get the Cash Prize, Academy’s Memento and Certificate every year. First three position holders in these competitions are given Cash Prize, along with Shield/Memento and Certificate as detailed uder:-

Educational and Cultural Competitions

Ist Prize аа аIInd Prize аа аIIIrd Prize аа аConsolation
Team Prize аа аRs.1000/- аа аRs.800/- аа аRs.600/- аа аRs.400/-
Individual Prize аа аRs.500/- аа аRs.400/- аа аRs.300/- аа аRs.200/-

Umang Painting Competition (Junior & Senior Level)
Best Painting аа аRs. 2000/- each section
Ist Prize аа аRs. 1500/- each section
IInd Prize аа аRs. 1000/- each section
IIIrd Prize аа аRs. 750/- each section.
Consolation аа аRs. 200/- (15 Prizes each section).

Urdu Certificate Course Centres/Diploma Course Centre
To promote and propagate Urdu and to cater to the need of Delhi’s learners of Urdu, the Academy has established 12 centers, which provide Instruction in Urdu in Certificate and Diploma Courses. The learners get Textbooks free of cost and a stipend @ Rs.50/- p.m. subject to the condition of 75% attendance. The students who join this course are from different walks of life such as Govt. servants, artists, lawyers, doctors, police personnel and dramatics etc. At present, over 1500 learners are enrolled in these 12 centers. First three position holders of each center in Certificate and Diploma Course are given prizes as holders of each center in Certificate and Diploma Course are given prizes as under:-
Ist Position аа аRs.750/-
IInd Position аа аRs.600/-
IIIrd Position аа аRs.450/-

Urdu Coaching Classes
The Academy provides Instructors/Teachers to various Urdu Coaching Centres and Madarsas of Delhi. This is regular feature.

Urdu Adult Education
The Academy has launched a scheme for eradication of illiteracy under the National Policy on Education in 1988. This year, the Academy has established 350 Urdu Adult Education Centers in the various parts of Delhi in which about 8000 learners have been enrolled. This is a regular work to promote Urdu education amongst women and low-income group people. The Academy is providing Instructors, Books, Copies, Chalks, Black Boards, Daris, Pencils and Erasers etc. to the centres free of cost. A Committee of Experts drawn from State Resource Centre, J.M.I. which is functioning under Ministry of HRD, evaluates the working of the Adult Education Centres annually. 200 toppers among the learners and 75 best Instructors are awarded with the cash prize of Rs.200/- & Rs.1000/- respectively along with a certificate and memento in an Annual Function by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi.

Joint Programmes with other Language Academies of Delhi
The Academy conducts cultural and literary programmes with other Language Academies.

Urdu Academy started its publication in 1986 Academy publishes books every year on various subjects viz. Cultural History of Delhi and on great personalities. Some books gone out of print have been edited afresh by the Academy, subject to their demand. These books are sold at subsidized rates. Academy also undertakes the work of translation of Classic Books into Urdu language. In addition, Academy is the Sole Distributor of N.C.E.R.T.Тs Urdu Text Books for India.

Address:

Secretary, Urdu Academy, “B” Block, First Floor, 5-Sham Nath Marg,Delhi – 110054.