In a recent interview on the Tried&Refused Productions’ YouTube channel with Anmol Jamwal, the esteemed Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah candidly discussed various topics, including the portrayal of the Mughal Empire in modern times, his role in the ZEE5 series Taj: Divided by Blood, his fondness for Urdu, his acting influences, and his thoughts on the future.
However, Shah, being a veteran actor, faced backlash after unintentionally undermining the presence of the Sindhi language in Pakistan with a comment he made. During the interview, while passionately emphasizing the importance of preserving Urdu as a significant part of Indian history, he made an error in stating that Sindhi is no longer spoken in Pakistan. This statement was a result of his enthusiasm and not factual accuracy.
During the interview, Jamwal raised the issue of negative perceptions surrounding Urdu and the lack of awareness about its origins in India. Naseeruddin Shah responded by expressing his disbelief at the classification of Urdu as a foreign language in some Indian universities, deeming it absurd. He further elaborated, “I ask my students, ‘Can you name another country in the world where Urdu is spoken?’ Apart from Pakistan? Where there are hundreds of other languages. In fact, Punjabi is spoken more widely than Urdu. Then they have Balochi, they have Dari, they have Seraiki, and they have Pashto. Sindhi, of course, is no longer spoken in Pakistan.”
“Sindhi, of course, is no longer spoken in Pakistan..”
WTF, Shah Ji? pic.twitter.com/kp4tYlmykG— Umar Aziz Khan (@UmarAzizKhan9) June 5, 2023
Shah continued his discussion, emphasizing the significance of Indians recognizing Urdu as their own language and understanding the influence of older languages on the local languages spoken in the subcontinent. Following this controversy, social media platforms buzzed with debates and discussions. Many individuals including celebrities expressed their disappointment.
In response to Shah’s comment, Mansha Pasha, a well-known actress from Pakistan, strongly disagreed, highlighting her identity as a Sindhi-speaking Pakistani.
As a proud Sindhi who speaks the language within her household, I beg to differ. https://t.co/6XXWaUXRtv
— Mansha Pasha (@manshapasha) June 6, 2023
“As a proud Sindhi who speaks the language within her household, I beg to differ,” the Laal Kabootar actor wrote on Twitter.
In a lighthearted manner, another user on the microblogging site joked, stating, “Yes, we’re extinct. I’m tweeting from the burial mounds of Mohenjodaro. The Indus River dried up a millennium ago. In Pakistan, we no longer speak Sindhi, it’s all Chinese and Urdlish.”
yes we are extinct. I am tweeting from the burial mounds of Moenjodaro. The Indus river dried up a millenia ago. Sindhi is no longer spoken in Pakistan, it is all Chinese and Urdlish https://t.co/FeIcQNQgo7
— ᚽᛁᛓᛆ (@okayysorryy) June 6, 2023
Extending an invitation and raising a question, a Twitter user wrote, “Sir, please come to Sindh and allow us to prove you wrong. I’m curious to know where he got the notion that Sindhi is no longer spoken in Pakistan?”
Come to Sindh Sir and let us prove you Wrong
I wonder where he got this idea that Sindhi is no longer spoken in Pakistan https://t.co/HGmUopryeR— Dewan Sachal (@essel1) June 6, 2023
it is worth mentioning that the Sindhi language carries significant cultural and historical value in Pakistan. It has been spoken by millions of Sindhi people for centuries and remains in use today. The Sindhi community has played a pivotal role in enriching art, literature, and music, nurturing a lively cultural heritage. As discussions about Shah’s comments spread, it remains to be seen how the actor will address this unintentional oversight.
