Why Javed Akhtar Says Secularism Should Feel Like Oxygen | Sunday Special

Why Javed Akhtar Says Secularism Should Feel Like Oxygen | Sunday Special
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Javed Akhtar and Saif Mahmood sit down for a sharp, honest conversation about Urdu, secularism and Indian culture. They talk about why languages belong to regions and not to religions, and why Urdu and Hindi carry the same deep North Indian history despite the politics around them today.

Javed Akhtar makes a clear point about how secularism should be lived naturally, the way we breathe oxygen, instead of being shouted as a slogan. The conversation also looks at how Urdu poetry is finding new readers through Devnagari script, even as fewer people learn to write in the Urdu script itself.

It's the kind of discussion that doesn't pick a side for the sake of noise. Both speakers stay grounded, and the ideas land because of it.
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Chapters:
00:00:00 Defining Secularism in Arts & Literature
00:03:28 The Hybrid Origins of the Urdu Language
00:08:39 Why Urdu and Hindi Are Siamese Twins
00:14:54 The Inherently Secular DNA of Urdu Poetry
00:17:16 Rebellious Verses: Meer, Ghalib & Beyond
00:23:04 Reciting Urdu Poems on Holi and Diwali
00:26:50 Javed Akhtar on Krishna and Urdu Culture
00:34:24 Does Language Have a Religion? (A Debate)
00:44:19 How Urdu Shaped Bollywood’s Golden Era
00:52:15 Powerful Poetry Recitation: "Khel" (The Game)
00:55:55 Closing Poem: Finding Light in the Dark
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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.
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#javedakhtar #urdulanguage #saifmahmood #urduhindi #jashnerekhta #indiansecularism #urdupoetry
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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.
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