Irfan Habib on Urdu, Partition, Akbar, Amir Khusrau & 700 Years of Indian History | Rekhta Rubaru

One historian. Seven centuries of India. One unforgettable conversation.In this episode of Rekhta Rubaru, legendary historian Professor Irfan Habib joins Moid Rasheedi for a sweeping conversation on the making of India’s cultural, political and linguistic history.From the memories of Partition and the Lahore Resolution to the atmosphere in Aligarh during a turning point in India’s history, Habib reflects on the dangers of allowing religion to shape the future of a nation. He also recalls Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s 1949 AMU convocation speech and the promise that helped preserve the university’s character.The conversation moves through the world of Amir Khusrau, whom Habib describes as India’s first patriotic poet, and traces the evolution of Hindavi, Persian, Urdu and Hindi. He also speaks about Akbar’s vision, Gandhi’s idea of Hindustani, Dara Shikoh’s translation of the Upanishads, and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s complex legacy in education, archaeology and colonial India.A rich, thought-provoking episode for anyone interested in Urdu, Indian history, language, culture, Partition, Mughal history and the many ideas that shaped India.