The department of Urdu at University of Hyderabad (UoH) organizes the Quli Qutub Shah lecture which is sponsored by National Council for the promotion of Urdu Language, New Delhi. In this series of lectures, in the previous years, stalwarts like Prof. Shamsurrehman Faruqi, Prof. Gopichan Narang and former Ambassador Janab Abid Hussain have delivered lectures. On the evening of October 24th 2013, Prof. Irfan Habib, Professor Emeritus, Aligarh Muslim University spoke on the pre-history of Urdu language. Prof. Ramakrishna Ramaswamy, Vice-Chancellor presided and Prof. Amitabha Das Gupta, Dean, School of Humanities welcomed the gathering. Prof. Muzaffer Ali Shahmiri, Head, Dept. of Urdu, introduced the guest and Dr. Rizwana Moin compered the session and proposed vote of thanks.
Prof. Irfan Habib spoke about the early traces of Urdu language with reference to the documents and other texts of Braj, Awadhi and other languages. He also threw light on the syntax of a common language which played a role of Lingua Franca in many places of North India. He pointed out that though the influence of Persian was seen on the languages and dialects of the age but the basic grammar remains Indian. Further, he opined that language should not be mixed with religion. Urdu has inherited characteristics of criticizing hypocrisy from Persian literature. He quoted many couplets to prove his point and he wished that Urdu will continue this legacy.
The lecture was attended by students, faculty and staff of the University in addition to many visitors from the city.