The International Bible Society (IBS) recently announced that the Urdu version of the Holy Bible has been released last month in New Delhi, India. Urdu is a language spoken by more than 400 million people across South Asia, therefore the new translation will become a powerful tool to preach the word of God to people in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and even some parts in Europe.

"We praise God for His precious gift of the Holy Word in the Urdu language that is spoken today," IBS President Peter Bradley said. "We believe this translation will lead many people to the saving knowledge and hope for abundant life found in Jesus Christ."

"IBS determined a new translation was needed because the Urdu-speaking people, most of whom are Muslim, were using a 1935 revision of a translation originally done 160 years ago," said IBS Group Vice President PLN Murthy.

"Urdu" is a Turkish word which means "foreign". This shows that the language represents its origin being an amalgamation of foreigners with the natives of South Asia. It was formulated by the interaction of foreign army, merchants and immigrants to India.

Today, it is the national language of Pakistan and is quite similar to the neighbouring country India's national language Hindi. In fact, the grammar of Urdu has some similarities to Hindi.

The translation culminates 13 years of work by a team of 25 scholars from South Asia led by Dr. Sam Bhajjan, a distinguished scholar in Islamic studies.

During the launch ceremony in New Delhi, India, Mike Richards Sr., Chairman of the IBS Board, presented the Urdu Bible to Arjun Singh, India's cabinet minister for human resources. Richards’s wife Cynthia; Peter Bradley, IBS President, and his wife Shirley; PLN Murthy, IBS Group Vice President; Mathai Samuel, IBS Administrator of the Hindi NIV; and P.C. Thomas, a member of the Indian Parliament were present at the event.

On 2nd March, IBS leaders met a delegation of Muslim leaders who had travelled from various parts of north India. Chairman Richards and President Bradley read portions of the Scriptures to emphasise the power and promises of God’s Word. Following their presentation, a copy of the Urdu Bible was presented to each Muslim leader. A CD containing selected portions from the Urdu Bible was then played, and the Muslim leaders listened intently, following along in their new Bibles.

The International Bible Society, founded in 1809, faithfully translates and reaches out with God’s Word so that people around the world may become disciples of Jesus Christ and members of His Body.