One-Day National Symposium on NEP-2020 Held at MANUU Lucknow Campus on 29th Foundation Day of the University

Commemorating the 29th foundation day of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), the Lucknow Campus of MANUU organised a One-day National Symposium on January 9, 2026. The program began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. Tarique Alam, a research scholar from the Department of English, performed the recitation.

Dr S.Mohammed Fayez, Associate Professor of English and program Coordinator, introduced the theme of the symposium. He then invited the guests: Prof. O.N. Upadhyay and Prof. Souban Saeed, along with the Campus in-charge, Prof. Huma Yaqub.

Prof. O.N. Upadhyay, the first speaker, deliberated on "Decolonising the minds through the NEP 2020." Professor Upadhyay lauded the ancient education system before colonial rule. He discussed how the glorious culture was destroyed during colonial rule, by referring to the ‘Macaulay Minute’. He echoed the importance of reclaiming and preserving India's rich cultural legacy. Highlighting the NEP 2020, Aatma Nirbhar Bharat, and Viksit Bharat 2047, he noted their promotion of education in the mother tongue. He also noted that translation is playing a pivotal role in preserving India's rich Indian Knowledge System (IKS) in its linguistic diversity. The holistic development of students by integration of spiritual strength is supported through a multidisciplinary approach of NEP 2020.

The second speaker, Prof. Sauban Saeed, discussed the topic "Promotion of Mother Tongues through NEP 2020." He hailed the efforts of Maulana Azad National Urdu University in the promotion of the Urdu language. Focusing on the necessity of the mother tongue in education, the speaker examined the challenges in implementing mother tongue education across different educational policies, up to NEP 2020. He also mentioned how NEP enables students to choose subjects according to their interests through a multidisciplinary approach. The speaker praised NEP 2020 for emphasising skill development, a current need that is adequately addressed in the policy document. He highlighted the merits of mother tongue in imparting education on developing students' literacy and numerical skills while maintaining their emotional bond with their cultural roots. The speaker concluded by saying that unless the policy's spirit is translated into reality, students will not reap the benefits.

Prof. Huma Yaqub, in her presidential remarks while concluding the morning session, emphasised that the objectives enshrined in NEP 2020, such as education in mother tongue, women's empowerment, technology, innovation, and the importance of the Indian knowledge system, have been pursued by the university since its inception. The Lucknow campus of MANUU is also taking the lead with the same spirit. Special provisions were made for girl students in terms of fee concession and other facilities. She also emphasised the importance of preserving linguistic, cultural, ecological, and spiritual values while embracing globalised ideals.

The afternoon session of the symposium was declared open by Dr. Omair Manzar, the convener of the program. He invited the distinguished speakers, Prof. Rakesh Chandra and Dr. Khan Farooque, along with the campus in-charge, Prof. Huma Yaqub.

The first speaker of the session, Prof. Rakesh Chandra, started his talk by shedding light on the ancient universities like Nalanda and Taxila in India and their contribution to the development of knowledge. He echoed the essence of striking a balance between being global and retaining our cultural roots.

The speaker also observed that the ability of humans to communicate with a language makes them distinct from other species. Therefore, the language reflects the cultural significance of human society. The philosophical essence can be well understood with the appropriate use of language. Distinguishing artificial languages from natural languages, the speaker upheld the ability of natural languages to effectively communicate complex ideas. The advantageous position of English cannot be undermined while reclaiming the linguistic diversity and imparting education in the mother tongue.

 The second speaker in the session, Dr Khan Farooque, spoke on the topic, "Indian Scholarly Tradition and Urdu Language and Literature." He elaborated on the literature produced in the Urdu language in Awadh and Deccan. He also highlighted the cultural exchange in terms of vocabulary and food across societies.

Prof. Musheer Husain Siddique, former HoD, Department of Arabic, University of Lucknow, delivered a talk on "Multilingual Education under NEP 2020." He began his speech by emphasising the beauty of linguistic diversity in India.

The Honourable Registrar of MANUU, Prof. S.K. Ishtiaque Ahmed, chaired the valedictory session online and congratulated the Lucknow campus on celebrating the foundation day of MANUU with the One-day National Symposium. In his address, he emphasised that NEP 2020 is vital for integrating the Indian knowledge system with science and technology. He stressed on the need for innovation. He encouraged students and faculty to engage with: MOOC courses. The SWAYAM platform. Startup projects supported by the government and various institutions. These initiatives need to be promoted and encouraged among all faculty members. He acknowledged the distinguished speakers for deliberating on the important topics related to NEP 2020, i.e., culture, innovation, multilingual education, and skill development. He also expressed that MANUU is committed to catering to the holistic development of its students by incorporating the spirit of NEP 2020 into its curriculum.

Dr Noor Fatima proposed the formal vote of thanks.