I think in English, but I pay the price: Juggun Kazim on losing touch with Urdu

Actor-host urges parents to integrate Urdu in children’s early learning

Actor and television host Juggun Kazim recently opened up about her ‘English-medium’ upbringing, her inability to read Urdu, and the humbling lessons she learnt while working with Pakistan Television (PTV). Appearing on an episode of the Ahmed Fozan Podcast, Kazim candidly discussed the challenges of not learning one’s national language.

“I have this problem where I think in English,” she shared, admitting that it affects her ability to consume Urdu-language content. “When I was young, everyone in my house only spoke English. My nanny was from Sri Lanka, so we conversed in English, and I studied at Lahore Grammar School, which was also an English-medium school.”
Critiquing the obsession with English in private schools, Kazim recalled, “When I was in school, we weren’t allowed to speak any other language except during the Urdu period. I’m glad that schools no longer enforce this ‘English-only’ rule.”

Reflecting on her upbringing, Kazim said she often questions her mother’s choices: “I ask my mother, ‘What gora complex did you have?’ It comes from such a regressive mindset that I’m living in my own country and yet can’t read my mother tongue. Shame on me for that.”
Kazim credited her time at PTV for improving her Urdu and grounding her as a professional. “When I returned from Canada, I was a bit of a snob and couldn’t host Independence Day or Defence Day shows because those required fluent Urdu commentary,” she admitted.

She recalled her first boss at PTV warning her about the importance of the language: “He told me, ‘You look down upon Urdu and this channel, but in the end, it will be Urdu that helps you.’ He was right. I was professionally groomed during that time, and working with PTV truly grounded me.”
The morning show host stressed that being unable to speak or read one’s national language is nothing to take pride in. “All of this is really unfortunate. I’ve suffered a lot because of it. Even today, I read my scripts in Roman Urdu because I can’t read the actual script. It’s sad, and I’m not proud of it.”

She added that this shortcoming has affected her children as well. “My kids face the same issue. I try to make them read an Urdu storybook every night before bed, so I’m still trying in that way.”
Kazim concluded with a message for parents across the country: “I talk about this often because I want to urge parents not to send their children to English-only schools. It’s wrong. Please make sure they receive an Urdu education as well.”