Centre in Bhiwandi to enable engagement with Urdu’s rich heritage

The city of Bhiwandi, home to one of Thane district's largest Urdu-speaking populations, is set to get its own Urdu House, a dedicated centre for the promotion of Urdu language, literature and culture.

- Linah Baliga

Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East, Rais Shaikh, announced that a 2,500-square-metre plot has been officially handed over by the Thane District Collector to the State Minority Development Department for the project.

“This is a promise fulfilled,” Shaikh said. “I have been pursuing the proposal since 2021. The Minority Development Department had announced plans in 2022 to construct Urdu Houses across various districts, including Thane. However, Bhiwandi was not on the list, despite its significant Urdu-speaking population. I kept following up with successive governments to ensure the city got its due.”