Episode 5: Hindustani

In this episode of Zubaani by Peerbagh, we speak to Urdu educator and influencer, Tamania Naqi. The episode is in Hindustani and English. We talked about contextualizing and modernizing language and stories for children in a new generation and those in the diaspora. Naqi talks about raising multilingual children that helps wire their brains to be more creative. She also shared the colonial impact on South Asians that has historically created a need to be English-speaking over giving importance to regional and local languages. We talk about tips and ideas for parents who are willing to make the effort and raise kids who can celebrate their culture and languages.

The name Zubaani was selected by Peerbagh's late founder, Vatsala Kakroo. The episode art was made by Upasna Kakroo. Krista Rodrigues⁠ supported the episode research. The background soundtrack features Slim Finger Pickings by artist Heston Mimms (2021), sourced from Imuno. 
The Zubaani podcast artwork (separate from the episodes) has artwork from Anushka Singh, a grade six student from Mount Abu Public School, Delhi.

This program is supported by the Elevate grant from the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department and Texas Humanities. 

About: Peerbagh is an award-winning 501c3 nonprofit organization incorporated in Austin, Texas. The nonprofit produces storytelling events and workshops and produces an illustrated South-Asia-inspired children’s quarterly magazine Bento. 

Website: ⁠peerbagh.com/bookstore⁠

Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/peerbagh.stories

Guest

Tamania Naqi, Children’s Author and Urdu Educator

https://www.instagram.com/urdumom/ 

Research and other writing:

Why Heritage Language is Important for Immigrant Origin Children’s Development & Learning https://immigrationinitiative.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/JANUARY-2024_WHY-HERITAGE-LANGUAGE-IS-IMPORTANT-FOR-IMMIGRANT-ORIGIN-CHILDRENS-DEVELOPMENT-AND-LEARNING-FINAL.B-1.pdf 

The Importance of Maintaining a Heritage Language while Acquiring the Host Language https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1021&context=honorstheses 

Hindustani and the limits of the language concept, Dr. Madhumita Lahiri https://works.hcommons.org/records/y83dk-zc461