Postgraduate Department of Urdu, under the faculty of Humanities, Patna University, is one of the oldest departments in the universities of India. In the beginning the department was functioning in the historical building of Patna College along with Arabic and Persian Departments. Later, in the year 1936 it got a separate status and after 1947 it was shifted to the Rani Block of Darbhanga House situated at the bank of holy river Ganga. Now it is running in its newly constructed building near the famous student’s hostel which is named after the famous Urdu poet Allama Iqbal. The Department has been a center of post graduate teaching and advanced research in Urdu language and literature. It has been served by a number of eminent scholars of national and international repute. The prominent literary figures like Dr Azimuddin Ahmed, Prof Abdul Mannan Bedil, Hafiz Shams Maneri, Prof Akhter Orainvi, Prof Sadruddin Fiza Shamsi ,Prof (Mrs) Quraisha Hussain, Prof Mumtaz Ahmed, Prof Yusuf Khurshidi Prof Anees Fatima Faruqui,Prof Aslam Azad, Prof Ejaz Ali Arshad,Dr lsrail Raza and Dr Ashraf Jahan have served as the Heads of The Department. The contribution of all these persons in the field of Research and extension activities are well known. It is honourable to mention that two great poets like Allama Jameel Mazhari and Padmshree Dr Kalim Aajiz were the teachers of the Department. Along with the teachers, the students of this department have also played a great role in the field of Urdu language and literature. The department has produced many eminent personalities in various fields of life To promote global competencies among students, the department regularly works for students support and progression. As learning resources, seminars symposium and extension lectures are organised which are graced by the prominent figures of Urdu literature. In recent days during such programmes the key lectures have been delivered by different eminent scholars like Prof. (Dr) Yusuf Taqui (Calcutta University), Prof. (Dr) Shabnam Hameed (Allahabad University), Prof. (Dr) Munawwar Gilani (BRA University) and others. Activities of the Department • A research Journal with ISSN no 22497854, is published regularly and also approved by the UGC as academic research and refereed journal no. 42271. • Students publish wall magazines at regular intervals • Kalimuddi Ahmed Memorial lecture series is organised in collaboration with NCPUL, Minitry of HRD, Govt of India and other seminar on Kaif Azimabadi in collaboration with Urdu Academy, Bihar. • Many other seminars, symposium and mushairas are also held in the department on different topics. • Mehfil-e-Afsana and book release of Kadi Dhoop Ka Safar and Bunker Ki Beti was also held during the session. • Research scholars of the department presented papers in the National Research Scholar Seminar held at Urdu Academy, Bihar, Patna. Since the establishment the Department has very much contributed in the field of teaching, learning, research and extension of Urdu language and literature. Achievements & Contributions of the Department • The premier Head of this dept has very much contributed to establish the fact that the history of Urdu language and literature is incomplete without the contribution of Bihar. His book "Bihar mein Urdu Zuban-o-Adab ka Irtequa" is a distinguished work in Urdu Linguistic. • Dr Sadruddin Fiza Shamsi of the dept. has contributed very much in the field of Urdu Rhetoric and Prosody. • Dr Yusuf Khurshidi has successfully traced out the contribution of Mushairas in Urdu. His book Urdu ka Yadgaar Mushaira is a yadgaar book. Dr Aslam Azad has contributed with his research on Urdu Novel. Ejaz Ali Arshad is a prominent name in the contemporary Urdu literature. His book on the Urdu research in Bihar highlights the contribution of Bihar in the field of Urdu Research. Besides Dr Arshad has enriched the Urdu world with his so many books on Urdu criticism. At present he is the Vice Chancellor of MMH Arabic and Persian university Patna. The contribution of Dr Ashraf Jahan in highlighting the role of women in the field of Urdu fiction has a great value. Dr Israil Raza has very much contributed with his scholarly articles. Dr Jawed Hayat the present Head of the Dept. has very much highlighted the role of Bihar in the development of Urdu journalism. In the recent days Dr Shahab Zafar has contributed the Urdu literature with more than ten books. M. Azlrnullah's contribution is also considerable. At present there are seven JRF in the department who are working on several projects and several research scholars are working for their Ph.D. under the supervision of the teachers of the Dept. The department has recently constituted a "Bazm-e-Tahreeque" (an Assembly of research) in the department to promote the research work in the department.

First Head: Azimuddhin Ahmed

Present Head: S. M. Jawed Hayat