Description: Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan and six Indian states, with about 70 million native speakers. Urdu is a part of the Hindustani language family, and is mutually intelligible with Hindi. Using the Nastaliq style of the Persian alphabet, Urdu is traditionally associated with the Muslim population of the region, while Hindi (using the Devangari script) is connected with the Hindu community. Visitors to Islamic holy cities, such as Mecca, will find signage in Arabic, Urdu, and English.
Brief description: Daniel Krasa is a scholar of Middle Eastern and Indian languages and dialects. A life-long Indophile, Krasa has authored approximately 20 books in several languages including Marathi Dictionary & Phrasebook (Hippocrene Books). After studying Northern Indian languages at several universities in India, Krasa has specialized in writing guides focused on travelers' needs. He resides in Germany.