HYDERABAD, Oct 20: The secretary general of the Sindhi Adabi Sangat, Mr Taj Joyo, has expressed concern over the decision of Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad to withdraw his order about teaching of Salees Urdu and Sindhi at the intermediate level.

He also criticized a statement of Finance Minister Syed Sardar Ahmed that the issue would be placed before the Sindh Assembly.

Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, he said that the governor’s decision was in violation of the Sindh Assembly’s act 1972 as well as article 251(3) of the Constitution and federal ministry of education’s notification of August 22, 2005.

He said the governor rescinded his own decision at the instance of some heads of private educational institutions and retired chairmen of educational boards who had been reappointed.

He regretted that the alleged statement of the Sindh governor that there was no need for teaching simple Sindhi and simple Urdu to students of class-XI.

He said that Sindh was a land of peace and love and it had not only welcomed permanent settlers for centuries but had willingly accepted languages such as Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Punjabi and English.

He said that during the British Raj since 1853, Sindhi language had remained medium of instruction as well as the court language.

He said that not only this but learning Sindhi was compulsory for British officers and they were directed to learn Sindhi within 18 months or go home.

He gave many other examples in this regard and said that many attempts were made to do away with Sindhi language in educational institutions but ultimately every government had to surrender and acknowledge the importance of Sindhi language.

Mr Joyo said that following the passage of 1972 Sindhi language bill, the opponents of the Sindhi and Urdu-speaking peoples’ unity engineered ethnic riots and the then Prime Minister Z.A. Bhutto directed Sindh Governor Mir Rasool Bux Talpur to issue an ordinance declaring Urdu as the official language of the province along with Sindhi.

He said that under the ordinance, the Sindhi students had to study simple Urdu from class-III to class-XI and Urdu-speaking students had to study simple Sindhi from class-III to class-XI.

He said unfortunately the Sindh Text Book Board could not introduce relevant books till 1984.

He said that due to efforts of the Sindhi Adabi Sangat, Sindhi Subject Society and the SPLA, the Sindh government sent a communication to the curriculum wing of the federal ministry of education which issued a notification on August 22, 2005, on the issue.

According to the notification, he said, the Sindhi students were to study simple Urdu in class-XI and similarly Urdu-speaking students were to study simple Sindhi.

He said that in view of the notification, the Sindh education secretary also issued a similar notification to all colleges and EDOs.

He said that except for Karachi, the teaching of simple Sindhi was started throughout Sindh.

He feared that due to the latest situation, the extremists and anti-unity elements could again engineer ethnic riots like 1972 and 1988.

He said that the teaching of simple Urdu and simple Sindhi was purely an educational issue but if the issue was not resolved even the Sindh Assembly could be divided on the basis of Urdu and Sindhi speaking members.

He appealed to MQM Chief Altaf Hussain who himself was learning Sindhi to intervene in the matter and direct the Sindh governor and the provincial finance minister to refrain from taking any decision which could adversely affect the unity of permanent residents of Sindh.

Mr Joyo pledged that Sindhi Adabi Sangat under no circumstances would allow any disturbances in Sindh on the language issue.

He said that Sindhi and Urdu-speaking writers and teachers would start a struggle to nip any trouble in the bud.