Bihari youth to develop course curriculum for US varsities

PATNA: A linguist, M J Warsi, currently teaching in the department of Asian and Eastern Languages and Literatures, Washington University, has been assigned to develop course curriculum of South Asian languages, particularly Hindi and Urdu for US universities.

Warsi hailing from Kusheshwar Sthan village in Darbhanga district has been given a grant of US $ 25000 to develop course curriculum funded by a grant from the US department of education's International Education and Graduate Programme Service.

"The project would be completed latest by August this year. The course design would be based on communicative method which is very modern and scientific way of teaching languages and linguistic courses," he told TOI from Washington.

"I belong to a place in Bihar, where there in no electricity, road and safe drinking water. Being a proud Bihari, I am fortunate to get important assignment to design course curriculum for the best universities of US," he said.

A gold medalist from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and a West Bengal Urdu Academy award holder, Warsi has also authored many books to make people understand the efficacy of common contact with regard to languages and culture.

Besides his academic commitment, Warsi has also been very actively involved with the community on the campus. He has been described as an "unsung hero" by the students of Berkeley University for his "extraordinary contribution" to academic and personal matters.

He has been chosen as a role model by undergraduates of the Berkeley-based university in a survey conducted to identify those staff persons who went beyond their duty to assist students in academic and personal matters.

Warsi's journey has been a long and tumultuous one marked by obstacles, dedication and tremendous courage in the face of great adversities. He has to his credit 23 papers and five books, besides many articles.