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The National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) decision to release an Urdu translation of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s book "Mustaqbil Ka Bharat" and making participation mandatory for its staff at the book launch has invited wide criticism. 

An official circular read, “show-cause notice will be issued to those who are found absent from the function” held today at India International Centre with the joint general secretary of the RSS, Dr Krishna Gopal and Union education minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal as chief guests. 

This is a violation of Urdu body’s code of ethics, say several Urdu linguists, who had their works published by the body. They went on to note that this book release is a  violation of the NCPUL guidelines which outline that “no book by a political leader or any sectarian material can be translated or published” by the body. 

Notably, NCPUL is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD).

However, Shakeel Ahmed who translated the book and director of NCPUL justified the move by citing NCPUL translation of Gita and Guru Granth Sahib in the past. He went on to say that this collection of lectures in the book talks about a new India. And that there is nothing wrong if NCPUL is taking the book to Urdu readers.

He further said, “We are also doing this because there are many unfounded misconceptions about RSS and its works amongst Urdu readers, especially Muslims." 

"This is a gross misuse of the funds of NCPUL, whose purpose is to promote Urdu by helping out writers and poets. A book which carries the ideology of an organisation is being promoted in blatant violation of rules and ethics,” said Urdu poet and former vice chairman of Delhi Urdu Academy, Majid Deobandi. 

According to media reports, Professor Ali Jawed, former director of the NCPUL and president of the Progressive Writers’ Association (PWA) said, “This is yet another attempt to subvert an institution of national importance.” 

Claiming that it was unimaginable during his period or before, Jawed said, “It is shameful that the platform of the NCPUL is being used to promote the ideology of a divisive force like the RSS. Unfortunately, not many from the Urdu community are speaking against it as many of them receive financial aid from the council.” Even when Urdu dailies have not highlighted the issue, social media is abuzz with criticism. 

Shakeel Ahmed, an associate professor of Urdu at Delhi University,  was appointed as director of the council in September 2018.

Ahmed is an old-time associate of RSS since 1991. He had contested as an ABVP candidate and won elections during his student days. He is also associated with at least two organisations led by RSS leader, Indresh Kumar. He is the national convener of the Hindustani Muslim Intellectual Forum and national co-convener (Intellectual Cell) of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch.