Urdu poetry, a mesmerising tapestry of intertwined and conflated emotions, leads into the captivating world of nonconformism, a rebellion that transcends the tantalising tale of unrequited love. Led by influential poets such as Mir Taqi Mir (1723–1810), Mirza Ghalib (1797–1869), Raghupati Sahai Firaq Gorakhpuri (1896–1982), and Faiz(1911–1984), Urdu poetry skillfully employs an engrossing idiom to challenge the widely accepted norms of collective life. These poets, through their reflective renderings, mock the self-appointed guardians of morality and the postulates of the well-regulated religion. They aim to instil a strong sense of rebellion that permeates all genres of poetry, including the most longed-for genre, the Ghazal.

The constitutive features of Urdu poetry, including rhetorical flourishes, judicious use of connotative meaning, and an ornate style that draws on metaphysical concerns and the multilayered life of desire, are not just captivating but also intellectually stimulating, engaging the audience with their unique beauty. It is this depth and complexity of Urdu poetry that fabulates inner lives in an expressive vocabulary, inviting the reader into a world of profound beauty and intrigue.

Urdu poetry, often draped in a rich tapestry of love, celebrates much-maligned errant behaviour that defies all restrictions. It challenges cultural norms, literary convictions, moral codes, and...

Read more