A Newly-Discovered Effort of Syed Abdullah for Promoting the Oriental Knowledge: Majlis-e-Mush?warat ‘Uloom-e-Mashraqi (1959)

Abstract

Dr. Syed Abdullah was an eminent teacher and researcher of Oriental Studies. He spent most of his life struggling to promote and elevate the status of the Urdu language through various widespread academic activities. Due to his efforts, the University Oriental College became the axis of such efforts, while he was the principal. Syed Abdullah made another effort to secure the status of Oriental studies by calling a consultatory meeting when the military had taken over the government in October 1958.

This meeting was called under the title of Majlis-e-Mush?warat ‘Uloom-e-Mashraqi on Jan. 03, 1959. More than forty prominent academicians and learned personalities attended the meeting, discussed the agenda in detail, and concluded the debate with the approval of some necessary measures. Relevant sources are silent about this meeting and its proceedings. Fortunately, the detailed proceedings of the above-said initiative are safe in the Oriental College Library archives. This article uncovers and sheds light on this effort which was still undiscovered.