How has globalization affected Urdu?

Where Urdu stands now.

The effects of globalization are apparent.

Sitting down to watch an episode of a Pakistani drama with my mom, I expect to hear eloquent dialogue with authentic language. However, I’m surprised when I hear the characters conversing with their friends, families, and co-workers, primarily in English. As I’ve learned, I’m not alone in my surprise.

Author Dr. Nasir Abbas Naiyar, of the book Lasaniyat aur Tanqeed, details his articles with observations from the media. He criticizes Pakistan Television (PTV) and Radio Pakistan, which formerly utilized the most genuine language and served as the representatives of our national identity and culture but have now given in to the pressures of globalization in order to increase their earnings. In his book, he asks the question: Why do older authors who previously made a name for themselves by writing in Urdu now regularly contribute columns and pieces in English?

He responds that people do this because they think that by writing in the official language of English, they may distinguish themselves and rise in social standing. He also draws attention to the fact that international corporations frequently employ the roman alphabet for Urdu phrases in their commercials. He sees this as another attempt to devalue the script and language of Urdu.

Essentially, globalization stems from colonialism, hoping to reenact it. Indian Poet, Shamsur Rahman Faruqi, criticized and wrote multiple Urdu pieces. According to Faruqi, there are persons who may be classified as colonized or as "free self" in every age and in every civilization. He continues by saying that individuals with the concept of "free self" learn about the colonizer's culture, but not at the expense of being alienated from their own.

Urdu has been read and spoken for centuries. However, in the 21st century, many forms of media are straying away from authentic Urdu to cater to a larger audience. Globalization was inevitable and will continue altering the language for years to come.