Educational Quest: An Int. J. of Education and Applied Social Sciences: Vol. 16, No. 02, pp. 121-133, August 2025 DOI: 10.30954/2230-7311.2.2025.3 Peer Reviewed Journal How to cite this article: Naqvi, T.F. (2025). Urdu, the Beneficiary and Victim of Circumstances Struggle for Survival. Educational Quest: An Int. J. Edu. Appl. Soc. Sci., 16(02): 121-133. Source of Support: None; Conflict of Interest: None Urdu, the Beneficiary and Victim of Circumstances Struggle for Survival Talmeez Fatma Naqvi College of Teacher Education (Bhopal) Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, India Corresponding author: naqvitalmeez@gmail.com Received: 12-05-2025 Revised: 03-07-2025 Accepted: 25-07-2025 ABSTRACT Urdu has historically been an influential instrument of learning, culture, and expression, particularly during the Mughal and British periods in India. Despite its continued popularity in certain domains, such as literature and romance, Urdu’s prominence has faced challenges, especially in post-independence India. The socio-political forces that shaped the trajectory of Urdu encompass colonial policies, communal dynamics, and evolving language preferences. The British administration initially bolstered Urdu as a medium of administration and education to supplant Persian and connect with the populace. However, this support eventually paved the way for the communalized Hindi-Urdu divide. The rise of the Hindi movement in the late 19 th century, coupled with British favouritism towards Hindi, relegated Urdu’s status in various spheres, including governance and education. This paper examines the historical and political underpinnings that have influenced Urdu’s position, highlighting its vibrant past, gradual decline, and its current status as a minority language in independent India. Keywords: Colonial language policy, Language and identity politics, Hindi–Urdu controversy, Partition and language, Language policy in independent India, Urdu’s legal status, Constitutional language provisions, Language in the state apparatus, Administrative regulations on language, Communalization of language Among other things Urdu has been the instrument of learning and thinking, and vehicle of culture. Its continued popularity as the language romance is an acceptable fact. But in many other areas of life it has suffered, as also continues to suffer, setbacks of sorts. Any appraisal of the vicissitudes the language has passed through in regards to its position, role and relevance in day to day life necessitates an understanding of the historical forces at work. The position of a language may be estimated with reference to its place in the overall administrative set up, it’s teaching as a language and as medium of teaching and learning. In this regard a wholesome view of its position in the state apparatus is an unavoidable imperative. This in turn entails an understanding of the written law, of the rulers’ aitude towards the language, and the circumstantial compulsions and political considerations which led to formulation of language policy. Legal aspects include the constitutional provisions, and law, cabinet decisions, government orders, and administrative regulations, as well as standing operational procedures. It is therefore, necessary to have an insight into the considerations and factors shaping the governments’ attitude towards Urdu, the policies that resulted in bestowing it a given legal status as a language and as medium of education. In the following lines a modest aempt has been made in the direction.