Bazm-e-Sahafat: Shahnawaz Hussain Discusses Urdu, Journalism And AI

BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain attended the third national conclave of Bharat Express Urdu, ‘Bazm-e-Sahafat’, at the India International Centre (IIC) in Delhi and spoke about Urdu, journalism and emerging technology. He noted that changing media habits have shifted readers from newspapers and magazines towards mobile phones and the internet.

Key Takeaways

Shahnawaz Hussain said the Covid-19 pandemic further accelerated this transition, with even widely circulated English weeklies increasingly reaching readers through digital platforms.

Hussain said Urdu should not be viewed solely through a religious lens, describing it instead as a language connected with India’s shared cultural heritage. He pointed out that Urdu poetry and couplets also find space in parliamentary discourse and stressed the need to further promote the language.

The BJP national spokesperson noted that Urdu poetry enjoys readership in southern India and said the language commands respect across the country.

Recalling his tenure as a Minister, Hussain said NCPL had established Urdu centres in remote areas, including Supaul.

Hussain highlighted the growing influence of ChatGPT and artificial intelligence on language and communication. He said AI could provide new avenues for promoting Urdu and recalled using ChatGPT to find suitable poetic expressions instead of seeking help from friends.

The BJP national spokesperson added that digital creators increasingly use AI-generated Urdu vocabulary for social media posts and other forms of online communication.

Hussain called for Urdu education up to Class 10 in states where authorities make it a compulsory subject and urged people to view the language as an intellectual tradition rather than associate it exclusively with religion. He urged editors to move beyond conventional news formats and embrace reels and other digital content to reach younger audiences.

The Bazm-e-Sahafat conclave brought discussions on Urdu, journalism, changing media consumption and technology into focus.

Hussain’s remarks highlighted the importance of combining the language’s cultural legacy with modern digital tools to broaden its reach.

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