Rakhshanda Jalil has always worked with words and now through ‘Hindustani Awaaz’, she promotes Hindustani literature. By Purabi Shridhar

IF Urdu is perceived as the language of Muslims then by the same twisted logic, Hindi should be the language of only Hindus. Rakhshanda Jalil debunks this warped assumption through ‘Hindustani Awaaz’ by promoting Hindustani, the age-old language formed by the blending of Urdu and Hindi,
its literature and rich oral tradition.

But first things first. Rakhshanda Jalil is 40. That’s the first thing she’ll have you know. And a hands-on mother to her two daughters. “Anything else I do is a bonus,” says the tall and attractive Rakhshanda. The bonuses include stints as a lecturer in Delhi University and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), a columnist (‘First City’), a much-in-demand translator of Urdu literature, a copy editor and the spirit behind ‘Hindustani Awaaz’.

Enriching Legacy
In July this year, the Capital was presented with the on-going series of seven programmes on Urdu and Hindi popular literature. The series has covered Urdu poetry, readings from Hindi and Urdu short stories, and the many manifestations of Krishna in popular Urdu literature. “It endeavours to provide a platform for scholarly and non-scholarly views in Hindustani on Hindustani,” says Rakhshanda. Her future plans include a journal of Hindustani studies.

For Rakhshanda, who can speak Urdu perfectly and learnt writing through a correspondence course in Hindi from Jamia Millia, the two-fold aim was to fight the stereotype that Urdu is a Muslim language and keep alive rich oral traditions. Going by the response, she has done that and much more. “I don’t want state sponsorship. Right now I’m not answerable to anyone,” says Rakhshanda.