5.8.1 Opinion pieces

Understanding Opinion Pieces in Urdu Media

In advanced Urdu, opinion pieces are an ideal place to see how arguments, style, and ideology are expressed. In this chapter, you will learn how to recognize, read, and analyze Urdu opinion writing in newspapers, magazines, and online platforms.

What Counts as an Opinion Piece?

An opinion piece is any text where the writer clearly presents a viewpoint about a public issue and tries to influence the reader. In Urdu media, these are usually:

• Columns (کالم) in newspapers and online portals
• Editorials (اداریہ) written in the name of the newspaper
• Op-eds (مضمون رائے یا تجزیاتی مضمون) often by guest authors
• Blogs (بلاگ) and personal commentary pieces on news sites

A typical Urdu opinion piece will:

• Introduce a current issue
• State a clear stance
• Give reasons, examples, or data
• Use rhetorical questions, contrasts, and emphasis
• End with a conclusion or recommendation

Typical Structure of an Urdu Opinion Piece

While writers vary, many Urdu opinion pieces follow a recognizable pattern.

For example, a typical skeleton might look like:

1. A striking sentence about a recent incident
2. A short narrative or anecdote
3. The writer’s main stance
4. Explanation of causes and consequences
5. Discussion of what “we as a society” should do
6. A memorable closing line or proverb

Signals of Opinion and Evaluation

To identify opinion, watch for evaluative language. Urdu opinion writers constantly use words of praise and blame.

Common evaluative adjectives and phrases

Example sentence:

یہ رجحان نہ صرف افسوسناک ہے بلکہ ہمارے اجتماعی رویّوں کا آئینہ بھی ہے۔
This trend is not only regrettable but also a mirror of our collective attitudes.

Here, افسوسناک clearly shows opinion, not neutral reporting.

Phrases that show the writer’s stance

Example:

اس میں کوئی شک نہیں کہ تعلیم پر توجّہ دینا وقت کی سب سے بڑی ضرورت ہے۔
There is no doubt that paying attention to education is the greatest need of the time.

Rhetorical Questions and Emotional Appeal

Opinion pieces often employ rhetorical questions to involve the reader emotionally.

Typical rhetorical question patterns:

Example:

کیا یہ ہمارے لیے لمحۂ فکریہ نہیں کہ ہم اپنی ہی تاریخ سے ناواقف ہیں؟
Is it not a moment of reflection for us that we are unaware of our own history?

Such questions usually do not expect an answer. They push the reader toward a given moral conclusion.

Recognizing Argumentation in Urdu Opinion Pieces

Opinion pieces still rely on argument structure, even when they are emotional. For advanced reading, you should identify:

• Claim
• Reason
• Evidence or example
• Conclusion

Useful markers of reasoning

Example of a short argument:

چونکہ حکومت نے بروقت اقدامات نہیں کیے، اس لیے صورتحال بگڑتی گئی۔ نتیجتاً عوام کا اعتماد متزلزل ہو گیا۔
Since the government did not take timely steps, the situation kept worsening. As a result, the public’s trust was shaken.

Here:

• Claim: Government failed
• Reason: No timely steps
• Result: Worsening situation and loss of trust

Style and Tone in Urdu Opinion Writing

Opinion pieces often have a distinct tone that differs from neutral reportage.

1. Use of collective pronouns

Writers often speak as “we” to create solidarity:

• ہم بطورِ قوم
• ہم سب
• ہمارا معاشرہ
• ہمارے نوجوان

Example:

ہم بطورِ قوم ابھی تک یہ فیصلہ نہیں کر سکے کہ ہمیں کس راستے پر چلنا ہے۔
We as a nation have still not been able to decide which path we want to follow.

2. Moral and religious references

Many opinion texts in Urdu media contain:

• Qur’anic references or allusions
• Hadith quotations
• Moralizing language like نیکی, بدی, انصاف, ظلم

Example:

جب تک معاشرے میں انصاف قائم نہیں ہوتا، ظلم کا دروازہ بند نہیں ہو سکتا۔
As long as justice is not established in society, the door of oppression cannot be closed.

You do not need to analyze the theology, but you should recognize that such references strengthen the writer’s moral authority.

3. Use of proverbs and idiomatic language

Proverbs are a powerful tool in Urdu opinion writing. They summarize a complex idea in a short, memorable form.

Common examples in opinion contexts:

Example in context:

بجٹ میں تعلیم کے لیے مختص رقم اونٹ کے منہ میں زیرہ کے مترادف ہے۔
The amount allocated for education in the budget is like cumin in a camel’s mouth.

Identifying the Central Thesis

An essential skill at C1 level is to extract the central thesis of a long, stylistically rich text.

Look for:

• Sentences introduced by: حقیقت یہ ہے کہ, اصل مسئلہ یہ نہیں کہ, بنیادی سوال یہ ہے کہ
• Repeated key words or phrases across paragraphs
• The first and last paragraphs, which usually state and restate the thesis

Example pattern:

بظاہر مسئلہ صرف مہنگائی کا ہے، مگر حقیقت یہ ہے کہ ہم طرزِ حکمرانی کے بحران سے دوچار ہیں۔
Apparently the problem is only inflation, but in reality we are facing a crisis of governance.

Here, the real thesis is about governance, not just prices.

Short practical exercise (for your own practice)

When you read an Urdu opinion piece:

1. Write one English sentence: “The writer believes that …”
2. Fill it using words from the text, not your own imagination.
3. Check whether this sentence is explicitly or implicitly supported in both opening and closing paragraphs.

Bias and Persuasion in Urdu Opinion Pieces

Opinion pieces almost always contain bias. At an advanced level, you should be able to notice how the writer tries to direct your thinking.

Common persuasive strategies:

1. Selective examples
• Focusing only on extreme cases to create fear or anger
2. Loaded vocabulary
• Using words like غدّار, دشمن, لبرل, دقیانوسی, متعصب to label people or groups
3. Appeal to authority
• Quoting famous poets, religious scholars, or “experts” without critical discussion
4. Appeal to tradition or identity
• “ہمارے آباؤ و اجداد نے کبھی ایسا نہیں کیا”
• “یہ ہماری مشرقی روایات کے خلاف ہے”

Example of loaded expression:

موجودہ نسل مغربی تہذیب کی اندھی تقلید میں اپنی شناخت کھو رہی ہے۔
The present generation, in blind imitation of Western culture, is losing its identity.

Here, “اندھی تقلید” is a negative frame that shapes the reader’s reaction.

Reading Strategy for Long Urdu Opinion Texts

Long opinion pieces can feel heavy because of vocabulary, idioms, and cultural references. Use a step-by-step method.

Step 1: Skim for structure

• Read the title and sub-headings, if any.
• Read the first 3 and last 3 sentences.
• Identify:
• Topic
• General stance (supportive, critical, warning, etc.)

Step 2: Mark key connectors

As you read, underline:

• Cause/effect: کیونکہ، لہٰذا، نتیجتاً
• Contrast: لیکن، تاہم، دوسری طرف
• Emphasis: دراصل، حقیقت یہ ہے کہ، سب سے اہم بات یہ ہے کہ

These give you the logical map of the piece.

Step 3: Separate facts and opinions

Create a quick two-column list (mentally or on paper):

This habit strengthens your analytical reading.

Short Sample Analysis (Mini Text)

Consider the following short, simplified excerpt:

پچھلے چند برسوں میں تعلیمی بجٹ میں مسلسل کمی کی گئی ہے۔ حکومت کا مؤقف ہے کہ وسائل محدود ہیں، لیکن حقیقت یہ ہے کہ ترجیحات کا تعیّن غلط ہے۔ جب تک ہم تعلیم کو اخراجات نہیں بلکہ سرمایہ کاری سمجھیں گے، حالات نہیں بدلیں گے۔ اب وقت آ گیا ہے کہ ہم زبانی جمع خرچ کے بجائے عملی اقدامات کریں۔

Step-by-step analysis:

1. Facts
• “Decrease in education budget over last years”
• “Government says resources are limited”
2. Opinion / evaluation
• “In reality, priorities are wrong”
• “We must treat education as investment”
3. Thesis
• The main problem is wrong priorities regarding education spending.
4. Conclusion / call to action
• “Now is the time to move from empty words to practical steps.”

Notice useful expressions:

• مؤقف, حقیقت یہ ہے کہ, ترجیحات, زبانی جمع خرچ, عملی اقدامات

Each signals an opinionated, argumentative style.

Writing Practice Idea

To deepen your understanding, you can imitate the style on a very small scale. Choose a simple issue, for example:

• Use of mobile phones in class
• Pollution in your city
• Rising costs of education

Write:

1. A two-line opening with a mild emotional tone.
2. One reason introduced by چونکہ or کیونکہ.
3. One suggestion introduced by چنانچہ or لہٰذا.

Example pattern you can model:

موجودہ دور میں موبائل فون ہماری زندگی کا لازمی حصّہ بن چکے ہیں۔ لیکن کلاس روم میں ان کا بے جا استعمال تعلیمی ماحول کو متاثر کر رہا ہے۔ چونکہ طلبہ توجّہ نہیں دے پاتے، اس لیے نتائج پر منفی اثر پڑتا ہے۔ چنانچہ ضروری ہے کہ تعلیمی ادارے واضح قواعد بنائیں اور ان پر سختی سے عمل کروائیں۔

Even short exercises like this will help you recognize similar constructions in authentic texts.

New Vocabulary for This Chapter

Use this vocabulary as a checklist when you read real Urdu opinion pieces. Whenever you see these words, pay extra attention to how they are structuring argument and expressing attitude.