 A Living Portrait of India |
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| Forms And Features Of Urdu Poetry |
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Urdu poetry mainly consists of the ghazal, the qasida, the marsia, the masnavi, the qita and the rubai. The ghazal is erotic or mystical in character and somewhat resembles the English sonnet. The word ghazal literally means to talk to women or to talk amorously. It consists of strings of verses which are complete in themselves, and here it differs from the sonnet which must have continuity of theme. The qasida is praise of a person, usually a patron. The language of a qasida is dignified and grand. As it is written to find favor with a patron or benefactor, it is full of hyperbole and other figures of speech. The marsia is a narrative poem, usually describing a battle containing references to the landscape as a background. It is full of life and fire. The masnavi
is said to be of the nature of an epic or a drama, but falls far
short of it. It follows Persian canons and has little action or plot
or characterization or dialogue. The Urdu masnavi is more or
less stereotyped and conventional in nature. The qita and the rubai are often didactic in nature and full of lofty ideas. Urdu poets stand in a certain relation to the past and
to the future. A budding poet is the shagird or pupil of an established
one who corrects his verses and guides him along. The ustad or
tutor again has been the shagird of some ustad of yesteryear.
The shagird of today too, if successful, becomes the ustad
of other young poets. Certain styles or traditions of writing are thus
carried on. Deviation from it is strongly criticized and this has often
stifled the natural development of Urdu poetry. Sometimes talented poets
have been reduced to writing only conventional lines, although sometimes
originality has transcended the limits of convention. Another tradition
of Urdu poetry is that a poet usually has a nom de plune or pseudonym,
often chosen by the ustad. A literary arena or forum where poems
on a set refrain are recited to the applause and appreciation of an
audience of poets, patrons, critics and enthusiasts is known as a mushaira.
It is often the scene of a contest or competition between poets. |
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