With the rise of South Asia as a global political, economic and cultural influence, professional proficiency in the sister languages of Hindi and Urdu is a unique asset for any student interested in an international career.
Visitors to metropolitan areas of South Asia may all too easily be misled into thinking that English is a universal language of South Asian business. The reality is that Hindi-Urdu holds a vital place in the South Asian business world and it is essential that, when working and studying in South Asia, global professionals can use Hindi-Urdu appropriately in these contexts.
Other key areas in which Hindi-Urdu is essential for communicating effectively are political discourse, public health, rural development, media studies, gender studies, social justice, child welfare, and labor disputes. Students who wish to study these topics, work with non-governmental organizations, join the foreign service, or fill the need for language experts in the federal government will face serious obstacles without Hindi-Urdu language proficiency.
Major companies and government agencies are increasingly seeking out employees with advanced language skills in Hindi and Urdu. The various opportunities emerging for Hindi-Urdu speakers can be grouped into four categories:
- Economic: Through business-process outsourcing, information technology, telecoms and manufacturing, India has created an economic boom that rivals the rise of China. Corporations such as Reliance, Microsoft, Dell, Tata, and Wipro are either of Indian origin or have developed major ties to the subcontintent over the past decade. Fluency in Hindi Urdu is a major asset for those interested in a future in international business.
- Political: The political focus of the 21st century is increasingly centering on South Asia. With conflict and reconstruction in Afghanistan, political change in Pakistan, and the emergence of India as a global superpower, knowledge of the region's key languages―Urdu and Hindi―is a crucial asset for careers with political organizations such as the United Nations or the State Department.
- Non-profit: South Asia is home to more non-governmental organizations than any other region in the world. Fluency in Hindi Urdu is crucial to everyday work in many of these organizations. From large-scale international organizations such as Doctors Without Borders to village operated micro-credit unions, opportunities abound for Hindi Urdu speakers.
- Cultural: With some of the world's largest film, fashion, and music industries, South Asia is an increasingly dominant influence on global culture. With literary, religious, and aesthetic traditions stretching back 3,000 years and incorporating such diverse regions as Persia and the Gangetic Delta, study of the Hindi Urdu language represents an unparalleled cultural education and a key to understanding major cultural currents in the world today.
