Javed Akhtar & Dr. Arfa Zehra on Urdu Culture and Mother Tongue | Sunday Special

Javed Akhtar & Dr. Arfa Zehra on Urdu Culture and Mother Tongue | Sunday Special . Javed Akhtar and Dr. Arfa Sayeda Zehra discuss the real meaning of Urdu identity and culture at Jashn-e-Rekhta Dubai. This conversation covers how language shapes our modern society. Dr. Arfa Sayeda Zehra explains that Urdu is a shared culture built from Persian, Hindi, Sanskrit, and Arabic roots. Javed Akhtar shares his thoughts on how technology and money change the way we speak today. They explore why younger generations often ignore their mother tongues while English takes over. They also talk about why poetry and storytelling still matter in South Asia today. Urdu continues to bring people together across borders. . Chapters: 00:00:00 Urdu’s Fragrance. A Tribute To Language And Memory 00:01:14 Dubai Session Welcome. Introducing The Panel 00:02:27 Adeel Hashmi Joins. Setting The Tone 00:04:12 Why Urdu Is Tehzeeb. Not Just A Language 00:05:01 Urdu’s “Pearls”. A Blend Of Many Languages 00:08:25 Words And Meaning. The “Sazish” Question 00:09:05 Speed Culture. Why Language Feels Thinner Today 00:13:25 What We Lost. Folklore, Myths, Songs, Stories 00:14:09 English Vs Vernacular. Class Divide And Identity 00:17:43 Why Youth Should Learn Urdu. The Real Value 00:19:16 Values Sold For Numbers. Respect For Knowledge 00:20:14 English As Empire. Power, Status, And Language 00:22:09 Bad Translations. Who Gets To Name New Things 00:24:00 What We Taught Kids. Profit Over Culture 00:24:51 Tehzeeb Is Behavior. Not A Perfume Bottle 00:25:45 Literature’s Revolt. Knowing Vs Not Knowing 00:27:35 Why Languages Survive. Economic Advantage Truth 00:30:06 “World Was Better Before”. A Romantic Illusion 00:32:55 Urdu’s Revival. Festivals, Platforms, New Audiences 00:34:05 Youth Identity. Ghalib And The Power Of “Aarzu” 00:38:18 Tehzeeb Is A Seed. Not Instant Delivery 00:40:02 Language Is Not A Weapon. It Should Unite 00:41:00 Don’t Be Stingy With Words. Widen The Heart 00:41:59 How To Learn Urdu. Read, Listen, Internalize 00:44:06 Language Isn’t Religion. It’s Region And Culture 00:48:05 The Hindustani Idea. One Syntax, Shared Speech 00:49:56 Politics Uses Language. A Dangerous Shortcut 00:50:50 From Hate To Love. Closing Note From The Stage . About Jashn-e-Rekhta Jashn-e-Rekhta is the world’s largest cultural festival celebrating the beauty, depth, and living spirit of the Urdu language. Held annually, it brings together poets, musicians, writers, thinkers, and artists from across the world to create a space of poetry, music, conversations, and storytelling. From soul-stirring mushairas and spellbinding musical evenings to intimate dialogues and immersive cultural experiences, the festival is where language turns into emotion and heritage finds a contemporary voice. More than a festival, Jashn-e-Rekhta is a movement that keeps Urdu alive, relevant, and deeply connected across generations. . #javedakhtar #arfazehra #jashnerekhtadubai #urdu #urdulanguage #indianculture #urduliterature #urduadab #heritage #southasia . About Rekhta Foundation: Rekhta Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation committed to preserving, promoting, and celebrating the Urdu language and its rich literary and cultural legacy. Through digital archives, learning platforms, publications, festivals, and community initiatives, the Foundation works to make Urdu accessible and meaningful for audiences worldwide. By bridging classical traditions with modern platforms and voices, Rekhta Foundation ensures that the language continues to inspire, connect, and evolve with time. . IMPORTANT COPYRIGHT NOTICE © Rekhta Foundation. All rights reserved. Unauthorised downloading, clipping, re-uploading, or reuse of this content (audio/video/visuals) is strictly prohibited without written permission. . External Links: Website: https://rekhta.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jashnerekhtaofficial/ Rekhta Books: https://rekhtabooks.com/ Rekhta Learning: https://rekhtalearning.com/