Learning Hindi-Urdu is one of the best ways to engage with the
study of South Asia. Hindi, one of the most important South
Asian vernaculars, is the official language of India and is
spoken in different regional manifestations and variations in
the northern Indian states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,
Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh. Hindi has also
traveled to countries outside South Asia and is spoken in Fiji,
Mauritius, Trinidad and Guyana, for example, and throughout the
South Asian diaspora of the Western world. Furthermore, Hindi is
related to Punjabi, Gujarati, Marathi and other South Asian
vernaculars through shared histories, etymologies, and cultures.
Urdu is the national language of Pakistan and also commonly
spoken in India. Many students will know Hindi-Urdu from
Bollywood movies. On a colloquial level, Hindi and Urdu share
grammar and lexicon. Learning Hindi-Urdu, is exciting,
challenging and timely, especially when considering the
increased attention towards South Asian eco