Urdu is an Indo-Aryan language spoken primarily in Pakistan and India, with significant communities in other parts of the world. It shares its roots with Hindi, though they diverge in terms of script, vocabulary, and influence. Urdu uses a modified form of the Persian script and is heavily influenced by Persian, Arabic, and Turkish due to the historical presence of Muslim empires in the Indian subcontinent. While Urdu and Hindi are mutually intelligible in their spoken form, the two languages differ in terms of their literary traditions, with Urdu being more associated with classical poetry, ghazals, and formal registers of speech.

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The language has evolved over centuries, shaped by diverse cultural and historical forces. It emerged as a syncretic language in northern India during the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire, combining local vernaculars with Persian, the language of the Mughal court. Today, Urdu holds official status in Pakistan and is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India, where it is recognized in several states. Despite its association with Muslim identity, Urdu has a rich literary and cultural legacy that transcends religious boundaries, with contributions from poets, writers, and artists of various backgrounds.