Podcast interview discussing the journey behind the inception of IHYA, and experiences as a diaspora member learning native language.

Author and polygot Hammad Rind’s astute reflections on an ingrained inferiority complex and institutional strangling of native languages in contexts like Pakistan.

“Indians have long lost fluency in Indo-Persian, Despite this, it is important to recognise that Indo-Persian is an integral part of our history. Refusing to engage with it means that India risks consigning to the dustbin an entire, sophisticated literary tradition, indigenous to this country. “

Listen to IHYA’s founder, Hamza discuss all things language loss, Urdu and colonialism with Pakistani-French writer and content creater, Warq.

At what point is your language no longer yours, but someone else’s cheap imitation? Urdu languishes — a zombie of its former self, disconnected from political, economic, intellectual and social vitality. The future of Urdu is in our hands. Do we care enough? Who are we? Who do we want to become?