Hum Dekhenge - We Will See (Set of 8) by Harun Al Rashid

This artistic endeavour emerges as a response to the systematic erasure of Urdu from educational curricula and public discourse. Urdu transcends its linguistic status; it serves as a repository of our collective memory, a reflective mirror of the syncretic essence of the subcontinent. Its script has been indelibly etched through the verses of poets, the melodies of songs, and the narratives of our shared histories.

The recent removal of Urdu from academic curricula, coupled with the demolition of historic mosques under the pretext of encroachment, signifies more than mere policy alterations; it constitutes an assault on cultural identity. These actions strive to sever the intricate threads that weave our diverse tapestry, replacing them with a monochromatic narrative.

However, culture exhibits remarkable resilience. While Urdu may be extracted from textbooks, its cadence permeates our streets, its metaphors adorn our expressions, and its essence permeates our ethos. This project stands as a poetic defiance against such erasures, compelling a reclamation of our linguistic heritage and a reaffirmation of our pluralistic roots. Urdu encompasses more than mere script and sound; it embodies the cadence of our collective memory, the ink of our shared histories, and the soul of our syncretic culture. From the ghazals of Ghalib to the nazms of Faiz, it has articulated our joys, sorrows, and aspirations.

This project serves as a testament against the systematic erasure of a language that has been an integral component of our identity. Through visual metaphors and lyrical expressions, it endeavours to underscore the inherent value of Urdu within our cultural mosaic and to resist the forces that seek to marginalise it. Through visual metaphors and lyrical expressions, this work seeks to underscore the inherent value of Urdu within our cultural mosaic and to resist the forces that seek to marginalise it. Let this be our poetic resistance—a call to preserve the linguistic threads that weave our diverse tapestry and to ensure that the verses of our ancestors continue to resonate in the hearts of future generations.

This artwork was exhibited at Method in the group exhibition "The Parliament is Now in Session" (August 2025)