Continuous study and writing essential for quality academic prose: Shams Badayuni

New Delhi: Quality academic writing can be developed only through continuous reading, writing, revision and critical evaluation, prominent Urdu researcher Shams Badayuni said on Friday.

Speaking at the inaugural session of a three-day International Research Scholars Seminar organised by the Ghalib Institute in association with the National Council for the Promotion of Urdu Language at Aiwan-e-Ghalib, Delhi, Badayuni said qualities such as coherence, logical reasoning, balance, scholarly language, fluency and accurate referencing were acquired through sustained practice.

He stressed that good research writing was rarely completed in a single attempt. “No quality writing is completed in one go,” he said, adding that a piece of research attained a desirable standard only after repeated revision and correction.

Badayuni said researchers needed to cultivate the habit of reading their own work critically, checking facts and references, evaluating the information presented and reflecting on the arguments before finalising their work. Such training was particularly important for students, he added.

He described the annual Research Scholar Seminar organised by the Ghalib Institute as an important platform for testing the abilities of young scholars, strengthening their confidence and exposing them to the wider academic community.

Renowned writer and translator Rakhshanda Jalil inaugurated the seminar and said organising an international research scholars’ gathering was among the Ghalib Institute’s priorities. Such events helped make the Urdu literary community aware of ongoing research while giving students an opportunity to hone their academic skills and gain experience of participating in international conferences, she said.

Ghalib Institute Secretary Professor Siddique-ur-Rehman Kidwai, in his introductory remarks, expressed concern over the pace of research but said there were still young scholars whose work demonstrated that the spirit of exploration and originality remained alive among the next generation.

He said better opportunities and academic exposure could help these researchers develop their ideas and present their work more effectively.

Maulana Azad National Urdu University Vice-Chancellor Professor Syed Ain-ul-Hasan, who presided over the session, said confidence in one’s research was essential for a scholar. Fear, he said, could prevent researchers from expressing their views freely.

He emphasised that researchers had a responsibility to analyse issues objectively and write without prejudice. He welcomed the Ghalib Institute’s efforts to provide scholars with a platform to present their research methodologies before a wider audience.

Muhammad Shams Iqbal, Director of the National Council for the Promotion of Urdu Language, said knowledge of more than one language could significantly enrich research. He pointed out that research involved not only content but also methodology, and familiarity with other languages could enable scholars to adopt more effective research methods.

Renowned poet and General Manager of Indian Oil Corporation Alok Uvril attended the inaugural session as chief guest. He noted that research scholars from around 40 universities across India were participating in the seminar.

He said such gatherings also helped scholars establish academic relationships with researchers working in different fields, adding that these contacts could prove valuable throughout their careers.

Idrees Ahmed, Director of the Ghalib Institute, said the Research Scholar Seminar had become an identity of the institute and efforts would continue to preserve it. He urged scholars to regard the seminar as their own platform and extend all possible support to it.

He said the institute sought to bring together Urdu scholars from different parts of the country to promote academic interaction and strengthen scholarly contacts.

The inaugural session also witnessed the launch of Shams Badayuni’s new research book, 'Mata'ya – Hayat Javed Ke Ek Hundred and Fifty Years'.

Tags : Urdu, writing, prose, Ghalib, Professor