History of Urdu literature,Literature/Urdu. Skip to main content. Search the history of over 357 billion web pages on the Internet. Search Search the Wayback Machine. Featured texts All Texts latest This Just In. Language English. History of Urdu literature,Literature/Urdu Identifier HistoryOfUrduLiterature.
Showing 1-50 of 785
Patras Kay Mazameen / پطرس کے مضامین
by(shelved 19 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.41 — 1,084 ratings — published 1930
by(shelved 19 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.41 — 1,084 ratings — published 1930
Rate this book
پیر کامل (Peer-e-Kamil, #1)
by(shelved 16 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.48 — 5,075 ratings — published 2003
by(shelved 16 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.48 — 5,075 ratings — published 2003
Rate this book
Urdu Ki Akhri Kitaab / اردو کی آخری کتاب (Hardcover)
by(shelved 16 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.33 — 926 ratings — published 1971
by(shelved 16 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.33 — 926 ratings — published 1971
Rate this book
Shahabnama / شہاب نامہ (Hardcover)
by(shelved 14 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.35 — 1,709 ratings — published
by(shelved 14 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.35 — 1,709 ratings — published
Rate this book
Raja Gidh / راجه گدھ (Hardcover)
by(shelved 13 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.20 — 2,056 ratings — published 1981
by(shelved 13 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.20 — 2,056 ratings — published 1981
Rate this book
Charagh Talay / چراغ تلے (Hardcover)
by(shelved 11 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.28 — 395 ratings — published 1961
by(shelved 11 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.28 — 395 ratings — published 1961
Rate this book
Hamaqatain / حماقتیں (Hardcover)
by(shelved 10 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.18 — 428 ratings — published
by(shelved 10 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.18 — 428 ratings — published
Rate this book
Zarguzasht / زرگزشت (Hardcover)
by(shelved 10 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.34 — 283 ratings — published 1976
by(shelved 10 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.34 — 283 ratings — published 1976
Rate this book
Alipur ka Ailee / علی پور کا ایلی (Hardcover)
by(shelved 10 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.21 — 835 ratings — published 1961
by(shelved 10 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.21 — 835 ratings — published 1961
Rate this book
Khuda Ki Basti / خدا کی بستی (Hardcover)
by(shelved 9 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.95 — 82 ratings — published
by(shelved 9 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.95 — 82 ratings — published
Rate this book
Udaas Naslain / اُداس نسلیں (Hardcover)
by(shelved 9 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.10 — 610 ratings — published 1963
by(shelved 9 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.10 — 610 ratings — published 1963
Rate this book
Khakam Badahan / خاکم بدہن (Hardcover)
by(shelved 9 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.38 — 331 ratings — published 1969
by(shelved 9 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.38 — 331 ratings — published 1969
Rate this book
Ghubar-e-Khatir / غبار خاطر (Hardcover)
by(shelved 9 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.15 — 114 ratings — published
by(shelved 9 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.15 — 114 ratings — published
Rate this book
Talash /تلاش (Hardcover)
by(shelved 9 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.17 — 609 ratings — published
by(shelved 9 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.17 — 609 ratings — published
Rate this book
Bajang Amad / بجنگ آمد (Hardcover)
by(shelved 8 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.31 — 148 ratings — published 1966
by(shelved 8 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.31 — 148 ratings — published 1966
Rate this book
Aab e Gum / آب گم (Hardcover)
by(shelved 8 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.37 — 327 ratings — published 1990
by(shelved 8 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.37 — 327 ratings — published 1990
Rate this book
من و سلویٰ (Man-o-Salwa)
by(shelved 8 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.11 — 829 ratings — published 2006
by(shelved 8 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.11 — 829 ratings — published 2006
Rate this book
![Urdu Urdu](/uploads/1/2/3/7/123721135/872396938.jpeg)
Mann Chalay Ka Sauda / من چلے کا سودا (Hardcover)
by(shelved 8 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.39 — 414 ratings — published
by(shelved 8 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.39 — 414 ratings — published
Rate this book
Jannat Kay Pattay / جنت کے پتے (Hardcover)
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.34 — 1,954 ratings — published 2012
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.34 — 1,954 ratings — published 2012
Rate this book
Sham e Shair Yaran / شام شعر یاراں (Hardcover)
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.71 — 62 ratings — published 2014
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.71 — 62 ratings — published 2014
Rate this book
زندگی گلزار ہے (Zindagi Gulzar Hai)
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.86 — 1,224 ratings — published 1998
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.86 — 1,224 ratings — published 1998
Rate this book
ایمان اُمید اور محبت (Imaan, Umeed Aur Mohabbat)
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.92 — 936 ratings — published 1999
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.92 — 936 ratings — published 1999
Rate this book
لا حاصل (La Hasil)
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.04 — 1,480 ratings — published 2001
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.04 — 1,480 ratings — published 2001
Rate this book
Pyar Ka Pehla Shehr / پیار کا پہلا شہر (Hardcover)
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.05 — 596 ratings — published 1974
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.05 — 596 ratings — published 1974
Rate this book
Akhri Marka / آخری معرکہ (Hardcover)
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.09 — 230 ratings — published
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.09 — 230 ratings — published
![Urdu Urdu](/uploads/1/2/3/7/123721135/360087476.jpg)
Rate this book
Akhri Chattan / آخری چٹان (Hardcover)
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.15 — 436 ratings — published 1963
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.15 — 436 ratings — published 1963
Rate this book
Diwan e Ghalib / دیوان غالب (Hardcover)
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.43 — 1,179 ratings — published 2008
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.43 — 1,179 ratings — published 2008
Rate this book
Ya Khuda / یا خدا (Paperback)
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.27 — 239 ratings — published 1967
by(shelved 7 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.27 — 239 ratings — published 1967
Rate this book
Kai Chand The Sar-e-Aasman / کئی چاند تھے سر آسماں (Paperback)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.06 — 77 ratings — published
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.06 — 77 ratings — published
Rate this book
Ishq Ka Ain / عشق کاعین (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.11 — 447 ratings — published
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.11 — 447 ratings — published
Rate this book
میری ذات زرہ بے نشاں (Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.14 — 1,206 ratings — published 1999
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.14 — 1,206 ratings — published 1999
Rate this book
Basti (Paperback)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.70 — 338 ratings — published 1979
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.70 — 338 ratings — published 1979
Rate this book
Abdullah / عبداللہ (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.13 — 714 ratings — published 2009
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.13 — 714 ratings — published 2009
Rate this book
Ghulam Bagh / غلام باغ (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.26 — 100 ratings — published 2006
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.26 — 100 ratings — published 2006
Rate this book
Dasht e Soos / دشت سوس (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.13 — 77 ratings — published 1983
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.13 — 77 ratings — published 1983
Rate this book
Aangan / آنگن (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.63 — 622 ratings — published 1962
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.63 — 622 ratings — published 1962
Rate this book
Bazm Araiyan / بزم آرائیاں (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.96 — 70 ratings — published 1980
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.96 — 70 ratings — published 1980
Rate this book
Tauba tun Nasooh / توبۃ النصوح (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.90 — 160 ratings — published 1884
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.90 — 160 ratings — published 1884
Rate this book
Zaviya / زاویہ (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.42 — 1,400 ratings — published
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.42 — 1,400 ratings — published
Rate this book
Basalamat Ravi / بسلامت روی (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.91 — 47 ratings — published 1975
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.91 — 47 ratings — published 1975
Rate this book
Moazzam Ali / معظم علی (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.16 — 177 ratings — published 1982
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.16 — 177 ratings — published 1982
Rate this book
Shaheen / شاہین (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.27 — 420 ratings — published 1987
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.27 — 420 ratings — published 1987
Rate this book
Kaleesa aur Aag / کلیسا اور آگ (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.97 — 126 ratings — published 1996
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 3.97 — 126 ratings — published 1996
Rate this book
Daastaan e Mujahid / داستان مجاہد (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.09 — 152 ratings — published 1964
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.09 — 152 ratings — published 1964
Rate this book
Khaak aur Khoon / خاک اور خون (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.15 — 471 ratings — published 1950
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.15 — 471 ratings — published 1950
Rate this book
Qaisar o Kisra / قیصر و کسریٰ (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.18 — 499 ratings — published 1926
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.18 — 499 ratings — published 1926
Rate this book
Mazeed Hamaqatain / مزید حماقتیں (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.13 — 145 ratings — published
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.13 — 145 ratings — published
Rate this book
Chalte Ho To Cheen Ko Chaliye / چلتے ہو تو چین کو چلیے (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.22 — 258 ratings — published
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.22 — 258 ratings — published
Rate this book
Dunya Gol Hai / دنیا گول ہے (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.14 — 110 ratings — published
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.14 — 110 ratings — published
Rate this book
Khumar e Gandum / خمار گندم (Hardcover)
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.28 — 78 ratings — published 1980
by(shelved 6 times as urdu-literature)
avg rating 4.28 — 78 ratings — published 1980
Rate this book
50 Best Urdu Novels Read Before You Die
42 books — 10 voters
“ایک بار ڈیرے پر ہم نے بابا جی سے پوچھا... کہ سرکار انسان کو پناہ کہاں پر ملتی ہے...؟ .تو فرمانے لگے... 'ماں کی آغوش میں! اگر وہ میسر نہ ہو تو والدین کی دعاؤں میں!! اگر وہ بھی بد قسمتی سے نہ ملے تو علم میں!!! وہ علم کتابی یا حساب الجبرے کا ہی نہیں، ایسا علم جس سے آپ کی ذات، روح اور دوسروں کو فائدہ پہنچے۔ وہ خدا کی مخلوق کے لیے زحمت نہ بنے۔”
―
―
“محبّت اپنی مرضی سے کھلے پنجرے میں طوطے کی طرح بیٹھنے کی صلاحیت ہے. محبّت اس غلامی کا طوق ہے جو انسان خود اپنے اختیار سے گلے میں ڈالتا ہے”
―
―
More quotes...
Part of a series on |
Islamic culture |
---|
Architecture |
Art |
Dress |
Holidays |
Literature |
Music |
Theatre |
Urdu literature (Urdu: ادبیات اردو, “Adbiyāt-i Urdū”) is literature in the Urdu language. has a history that is inextricably tied to the development of Urdu, the register of the Hindustani language written in the Perso-Arabic script. While it tends to be dominated by poetry, especially the verse forms of the ghazal and nazm, it has expanded into other styles of writing, including that of the short story, or afsana.
Urdu literature is mostly popular in Pakistan, where Urdu is the national language and India, where it is an official language. It is also widely understood in Afghanistan.
- 1Origin
- 4Poetry
- 5Novels
- 7Literary movements
Origin[edit]
Indian literature |
---|
Urdu developed in the Delhi region. Urdu literature originated some time around the 14th century in present-day North India among the sophisticated gentry of the courts. The continuing traditions of Islam and patronisations of foreign culture centuries earlier by Muslim rulers, usually of Turkic or Afghan descent, marked their influence on the Urdu language given that both cultural heritages were strongly present throughout Urdu territory. The Urdu language, with a vocabulary almost evenly split between Sanskrit-derived Prakrit and Arabo-Persian words, was a reflection of this cultural amalgamation.
Special contributors[edit]
Amir Khusro exercised great influence on the initial growth of not only Urdu literature, but the language itself (which only truly took shape as distinguished from both Persian and proto-Hindi around the 14th century). He is credited with the systematization of northern Indian classical music, including Hindustani music, and he wrote works both in Persian and Hindavi. While the couplets that come down from him are representative of a latter-Prakrit Hindi bereft of Arabo-Persian vocabulary, his influence on court viziers and writers must have been transcendental, for a century after his death Quli Qutub Shah was speaking a language that might be considered to be Urdu. Sultan Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah was a scholar in Persian and Arabic. He also wrote poetry in Telugu language, Persian language and Urdu language. His poetry has been compiled into Dewan or volume entitled 'Kulliyat-e-Quli Qutub Shah.' Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah had the distinction of being the first Saheb-e-dewan Urdu poet and is credited with introducing a new sensibility into prevailing genres of Persian/Urdu poetry. It is said that the Urdu language acquired the status of a literary language due to his contributions. He died in the year 1611.[1]
Sayyid Shamsullah Qadri is considered as the first researcher of Deccaniyat.[2] some of the works of Allama Hakeem Sayyid Shamsullah Qadri are Salateen e Muabber 1929,[3] Urdu-i-qadim 1930,[4] Tareekh E Maleebaar,[5] Mowarrikheen E Hind,[6] Tahfat al Mujahidin 1931,[7] Imadiya,[8] Nizam Ut Tawareekh,[9] Tareekh Zuban Urdu-Urdu-E-Qadeem,[10] Tareekh Zuban Urdu Al Musamma Ba Urdu-E-Qadeem,[11][12] Tareekh Zuban Urdu Yaani Urdu-E-Qadeem,[13] Tarikh Vol III,[14] Asaarul Karaam,[15] Tarikh[16] Shijrah Asifiya,[17] Ahleyaar,[18] Pracina malabar[19]
Dastaangoi (epics)[edit]
Urdu literature was generally composed more of poetry than of prose. The prose component of Urdu literature was mainly restricted to the ancient form of epic stories called Dastan (داستان). These long stories have complicated plots that deal with magical and otherwise fantastic creatures and events.
The genre originated in the Middle East and was disseminated by folk storytellers. It was assimilated by individual authors. Dastan's plots are based both on folklore and classical literary subjects. Dastan was particularly popular in Urdu literature, typologically close to other narrative genres in Eastern literatures, such as Persian masnawi, Punjabi qissa, Sindhi waqayati bait, etc., and also reminiscent of the European novel. The oldest known Urdu dastans are Dastan-i-Amir Hamza, recorded in the early seventeenth century, and the on longer extantBustan-iKhayal (The Garden of Imagination or The Garden of Khayal) by Mir Taqi Khayal (d. 1760). Most of the narrative dastans were recorded in the early nineteenth century, representing the inclusion of 'wandering' motifs borrowed from the folklore of the Middle East, central Asia and northern India. These include Bagh-oBahar (The Garden and Spring) by Mir Amman, Mazhab-i-Ishq (The Religion of Love) by Nihalchand Lahori, Araish-i-Mahfil (The Adornment of the Assembly) by Hyderbakhsh Hyderi, and Gulzar-i-Chin (The Flower Bed of Chin) by Khalil Ali Khan Ashq.[20]Other famous Urdu dastans include Nau tarz-i murassa‘ by Husain ‘Atā Khān Tahsīn, Nau ā'īn-i hindī (Qissa-i Malik Mahmūd Gīti-Afroz) by Mihr Chand Khatrī, Jazb-i ‘ishq by Shāh Husain Haqīqat, Nau tarz-i murassa‘ by Muhammad Hādī (a.k.a. Mirzā Mughal Ghāfil), and Talism Hoshruba by Muhammad Husain Azad.
Tazkiras[edit]
Tazkiras, are compilations of literary memoirs that include verses and maxims of the great poets along with biographical information and commentaries on their styles. They are often a collection of names with a line or two of information about each poet, followed by specifics about his composition. Some of this Tazkiras give biographical details, and a little idea of the style or poetical power is transmitted. Even the large anthologies do not systematically review an author's work. Most of them have the names in alphabetical order, but one or two are ordered by historical chronology. The majority quote only lyrics, and the quotations are usually chosen randomly.
Poetry[edit]
Urdu poetry reached its peak in the 19th century. The most well-developed form of poetry is the ghazal, known for its quality and quantity within the Urdu tradition.
Sonnets[edit]
Urdu poets influenced by English and other European-language poetry began writing sonnets in Urdu in the early 20th century.[21] Azmatullah Khan (1887-1923) is believed to have introduced this format to Urdu poetry.[22] Other renowned Urdu poets who wrote sonnets are Akhtar Junagarhi, Akhtar Sheerani, Noon Meem Rashid, Mehr Lal Soni Zia Fatehabadi, Salaam Machhalishahari and Wazir Agha.
Novels[edit]
Initially, Urdu novels focused on urban social life, eventually widening in scope to include rural social life. They also covered the changing times under the progressive writing movement inspired by Sajjad Zaheer. He was not novlist but a short story writer. However, the independence of Pakistan in 1947 greatly affected the novel, bringing up questions of identity and migration as can be seen in the major works of Intezar Hussain and Quratulain Haider. Towards the end of the last century the novel took a serious turn towards the contemporary life and realities of the young generations of India. The most significant novels of the current generation of Indian novelists in Urdu, which demonstrate a new confidence in contemporary life, are Makaan by Paigham Afaqui, Do Gaz Zameen by Abdus Samad, and Pani by Ghazanfer. These works, especially Makaan, brought the Urdu novel out of the prevailing themes of the independence of Pakistan in 1947 and identity issues and took it into the realm of modern-day realities and issues of life in India. Makaan influenced many English writers such as Vikram Seth, who turned to novel writing. These Urdu novels further affected significant works such as Andhere Pag by Sarwat Khan, Numberdar Ka Neela by S M Ashraf and Fire Area by Ilyas Ahmed Gaddi. Paigham Afaqui's second major novel, Paleeta, was published in 2011 and depicts the tension of the political sickening of a common Indian citizen in the six decades after India's independence. Bewildered by the disappointing state of democracy and the transformation of Indian society into a mental desert the central character dies after leaving behind his writings which catch fire.
Famous novels[edit]
- Mirat-al-Urus (The Bride's Mirror; 1868–1869) by Deputy Nazeer Ahmed is regarded as the first novel in Urdu. Within twenty years of publication over 100,000 copies had been printed; and was also translated into Bengali, Braj, Kashmiri, Punjabi, and Gujarati. It has never been out of print in Urdu. In 1903 an English translation was published in London by G. E. Ward.
- Umrao-Jaan by Mirza Hadi Ruswa is also considered the first Urdu novel by many critics.[citation needed]
- Bina-tul-Nash- (The Daughters of the Bier, a name for the constellation Ursa Major) is another novel by Deputy Nazeer Ahmed. It was his 2nd novel after Mirat-tul-uroos. Like Mira-tul-Uroos, this novel is also on the education of women and their character building.
- Zindagi (Everything Happens in Life; 1933–1934) by Chaudhry Afzal Haq describes the ups and downs of life for developing moral values and guidance of young people. His entire work is full of the teaching of moral values.
- Taubat-un-Nasuh (Repentance of Nasuh; 1873–1874) by Deputy Nazeer Ahmed also focused on moral lessons for youth.
- Fasaana-e-Mubtalaa (1885) was another novel for developing moral values and guidance for youth.
- Jasoosi Dunya and Imran series by Ibn-e-Safi
- 'Aag Ka Darya' by Quratulain Haider
- 'Udas Naslain' by Abdullah Hussain
- 'Jangloos' by Shaukat Siddiqui
- 'Daira' (دائرہ) by Muhammad Asim Butt
- 'Pir e kamil' by Umera Ahmad
- 'Khuda Ke Saaye Mein Ankh Micholi ' by Rahman Abbas
- 'Ek Mamnua Muhabbat Ki Kahani ' by Rahman Abbas
- 'Rohzin ' By Rahman Abbas
In the first decade of twenty first century Rahman Abbas has emerged as most influential Urdu fiction writer. 'The Hindu', writes about work of Rahman Abbas that With his uncanny ability to subvert what people believe, Rehman Abbas raises the art of story-telling to a new level.[23]
Short stories (afsanah nigari)[edit]
Urdu literature has included the short story form for slightly more than one hundred years. During this period it has passed through some major phases including the early romantic period, progressive writings, modernist writings, and the current phase. Although a number of male and female writers wrote short stories during the first phase G(including both romantic stories and social criticisms), the short story crystallized as a regular part of Urdu literature in the growth of the writings of Munshi Premchand. His notable short stories include 'Kafan' and 'Poos Ki Raat'. The Urdu short story gained momentum with the phenomenal publication of Angare, a collection of many writers towards the end of the life of Premchand. Writers like Ghulam Abbas, Manto, Rajinder Singh Bedi, Krishan Chander and Ismat Chughtai, to name but a few, turned the short story into a major genre of Urdu literature.
The next generation of Urdu short story writers included Qurratulain Hyder, Qazi Abdul Sattar and Joginder Paul. The short story tradition continues with younger generation writers like Zahida Hina, Paigham Afaqui, Syed Mohd Ashraf, Salam Bin Razzaq, Naeem Baig, Akhlaq Ahmed Khan and Moinuddin Jinabade.[24]
Urdu short stories have dealt with a wide range of the dimensions of life, but the most famous stories concern the trauma of the independence of Pakistan in 1947 and the violence generated out of it. Towards the end of the last century, short stories became grounded in the complexity of daily life which can be seen in the unique collection of short stories in Paigham Afaqui's Mafia. An entirely different approach is seen in the collection of short stories T'abir by Moinuddin Jinabade and Taus Chaman Ka Maina by Nayyer Masood.
Drama[edit]
Urdu drama evolved from the prevailing dramatic traditions of North India raas as practiced by exponents like Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh. His dramatic experiments led to the famous Inder Sabha of Amanat and later this tradition took the shape of Parsi Theatre. Agha Hashr Kashmiri is the culmination of this tradition.
Urdu theatre traditions have greatly influenced modern Indian theatre. Among all the languages, Urdu (which was called Hindi by early writers), along with Gujarati, Marathi, and Bengali theatres have remained popular. Many Urdu dramas have also been made into films.
Classic playwrights include Prof Hasan, Ghulam Jeelani, J. N. Kaushal, Shameem Hanfi and Jameel Shaidayi. Danish Iqbal, Sayeed Alam, Shahid Anwar, Iqbal Niyazi and Anwar are a few of the post-modern playwrights actively contributing to Urdu drama.
Sayeed Alam is known for his wit and humour in plays like Ghalib in New Delhi, Maulana Azad and Big B.
Danish Iqbal's Dara Shikoh, directed by M S Sathyu, is considered a modern classic for its use of newer theatre techniques and a contemporary perspective. His other plays are Sahir, on the famous lyricist and revolutionary poet; Kuchh Ishq kiya Kuchh Kaam, a Celebration of the Faiz's poetry, featuring events from the early part of his life, particularly the events and incidents of pre-independence days which shaped his life and ideals; and Chand Roz Aur Meri Jaan, another play inspired from Faiz's letters written from various jails during the Rawalpindi Conspiracy days. He has written 14 other plays including Dilli Jo Ek Shehr Thaa and Main Gaya Waqt Nahin hoon.
Shahid's Three B is also a significant play. He has been associated with many groups including 'Natwa'. Zaheer Anwar has kept the flag of Urdu Theatre flying in Kolkata. Unlike the writers of the previous generation, Sayeed, Shahid, Iqbal, and Zaheer do not write bookish plays but rather their work is a product of a vigorous performing tradition. Iqbal Niyazi of Mumbai has written several plays in Urdu. His play Aur Kitne Jalyanwala Baugh?? won several awards. Hence this is the only generation after Amanat and Agha Hashr who actually write for the stage and not for libraries.
Literary movements[edit]
Progressive Writers Movement[edit]
According to The Dawn, the Progressive Writers Movement in Urdu literature was the strongest movement after Sir Syed's education movement.[citation needed]
Modernism[edit]
The modernist movement started in Urdu literature around 1960. This movement laid more stress on symbolic and other indirect expressions as opposed to direct and clear expressions. The most well-known names in this movement included Shamsur Rehman Farooqui and Gopichand Narang and the poets Noon Meem Rashid and Meeraji. Apart from them, a number of other poets like Zafer Iqbal, Nasir Kazmi, Bashir Bader and Shahryar are related to this movement.
Halqa e Arbab e Zauq[edit]
Halqa e Arbab e Zauq was a literary movement begun in Lahore, British Raj, India in 1936. Early members included poets Noon Meem Rashid, Zia Jallandhari, Muhtar Siddiqui, Hafeez Hoshiarpuri and Meeraji, brought to the meeting by his friend, Qayyum Nazar, an active member of the group. The Halqa was the second modern literary movement in Urdu poetry in the 20th century, founded just a couple of years after the leftist Progressive Writers' Movement, and is considered to be the most influential group on modern poetry in the Urdu Language.
Post-modernism[edit]
Post-modernism was introduced to Urdu literature by Gopi Chand Narang. Many other critics in Urdu literature are also attached to this approach to criticism. Post-modernism does not claim to be a movement and does not demand any writer to adopt a particular style of writing. It generally concentrates on a method of understanding contemporary literature in the light of its content—mostly examining features like feminism, Dalit, regional and other types of literature as opposed to seeking uniformity in the global literature on the basis of internationally established trends.
Independent writers[edit]
By the end of the 1980s the atmosphere in Urdu literature became very depressing. The progressive movement was almost dead and the modernist movement had started running out of ideas. But this was also the time for an upsurge of new creative forces rooted in the new life that was metamorphosing the socio-economic and political climate in the sub-continent. It was under this climate that a new era of fiction started with the publication of Paigham Afaqui's novel Makaan. Afaqui and other writers refused to be identified by any movement and displayed complete independence in using personally developed styles and techniques for writing novels and explored their own philosophy and vision of life. It was a serious departure from the theme of independence which dominated writers like Qurratulain Hyder and Abdullah Hussain and the theme of existentialism which was the benchmark of modernism. Writers like Ghazanfer and Musharraf Alam Zauqi have further widened the horizons of new themes and concerns.
Theatre of the Absurd[edit]
Theatre of the Absurd is a new and somewhat rare genre in the history of Urdu Literature. The first play of the genre was written and published by the Pakistan research-writer, poet, lawyer and columnist Mujtaba Haider Zaidi in December 2008 under the title Mazaron Ke Phool[25] (i.e. Graveyard Flowers).
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^J. S. Ifthekhar (January 12, 2012). 'Solemnity envelops Qutb Shahi tombs'. The Hindu.
- ^'Archived copy'(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2014-09-09.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
- ^'Salateen E Muabber'. Muslim University Press Aligarh. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
- ^'Urdu-i-qadim'. Urdu literature - History and criticism. Lucknow : [s.n.], 1930.
- ^Sayyed ShamsUllah Qadri (1930). 'Tareekh - Malabaar'. Hindustan - Malabaar (in Urdu). Aligarh: Muslim University Press. p. 98. Archived from the original on 2013-09-27.
- ^Syed Shams Ullah Qadri (1933). 'Moorrakheen-E-Hind'. Bibliographical Studies In Indo-Muslim History (in Urdu). HYDERABAD DECCAN: THE MAGAZINE TAREEKH. p. 139. Archived from the original on 2014-10-18. Retrieved 2015-02-17.
- ^Tuhfat al-mujahidin.
- ^Sayyed Shams Ullah Qadri (1925). 'Imadia'. Imad-Ul-Mulk - Sawaneh Tazkira - Nawabeen Awadh - Imad-Ul-Mulk (in Urdu). Hyderabad: Tarikh office. p. 330. Archived from the original on 2013-09-27.
- ^Sayyed ShamsUllah Qadri (1930). 'Nizam Ut Tawareekh'. GENERALITIES (in Urdu). Hyderabad: Tareekh Press. p. 158. Archived from the original on 2013-09-27.
- ^Sayyed Shams Ullah Qadri. 'Tareekh Zuban Urdu - Urdu-E-Qadeem'. Urdu Zuban - Tareekh (in Urdu). Taj Press. p. 134. Archived from the original on 2013-09-27.
- ^Sayyed Shams Ullah Qadri (1967). 'Tareekh Zuban Urdu Al Musamma Ba - Urdu-E-Qadeem'. Urdu Adab - Tareekh (in Urdu). p. 228. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2015-02-17.
- ^Shamsullah Quadri (1967). 'Urdu-i-qadim'. Urdu language - History. Lucknow: Matba naval Kishore.
- ^Sayyed ShamsUllah Qadri (1925). 'Tareekh Zuban Urdu Yaani - Urdu-E-Qadeem'. Urdu Adab - Tareekh Urdu-E-Qadeem - Tareekh (in Urdu).
- ^Sayyid ShamsUllah Qadri (1931). 'Tarikh Vol III'. GEOGRAPHY. BIOGRAPHY. HISTORY (in Urdu).
- ^Sayyid Shamsullah Qadri. 'Asaarul Karaam'. Tareekh Hindustani Musalman. Hyderabad: Anjuman Imdaad Bahami Maktaba Abr Aheemiya. p. 156. Archived from the original on 2013-09-27.
- ^Sayyid Shamsullah Qadri (1930). 'Tarikh'. Geography. Biography. History (in Urdu). Tarikh Press Hyderabad. p. 1.
- ^Murattib Shams Ullah Qadri (1938). 'Shijrah Asifiya'. Tareekh Asifiya Hyderabad. p. 120.
- ^Shamsullah Quadri (1930). 'Ahleyaar'. Urdu poetry (in Urdu).
- ^Hakim sayyid Shamsullah Qadri (1954). 'Pracina malabar'. Pakistan - History. V. Abdul Qaiyyum (trans.). Kazhikode: Bushra Pub. House. p. 1.
- ^'Welcome forumpakistan.net - BlueHost.com'.
- ^Encyclopedic dictionary of Urdu literature p.565 https://books.google.com/books?isbn=8182201918
- ^The Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature (Volume Five) p.4146 https://books.google.com/books?isbn=8126012218
- ^'The journey within'.
- ^Dutt, Kartik Chandra (1 January 1999). 'Who's who of Indian Writers, 1999: A-M'. Sahitya Akademi – via Google Books.
- ^Ilm-o-Irfan Publishers, Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Pakistan
Further reading[edit]
- Muhammad Husain Azad: Ab-e hayat (Lahore: Naval Kishor Gais Printing Wrks) 1907 [in Urdu]; (Delhi: Oxford University Press) 2001 [In English translation]
- Shamsur Rahman Faruqi: Early Urdu Literary Culture and History (Delhi: Oxford University Press) 2001
- M.A.R. Habib: An Anthology of Modern Urdu Poetry in English translation with Urdu text. Modern Language Association (2003). ISBN0-87352-797-6
- Alamgir Hashmi, The Worlds of Muslim Imagination (1986) ISBN0-00-500407-1.
- Muhammad Sadiq, A History of Urdu Literature (1984).
- Alamgir Hashmi, ed. Rafey Habib, Faruq Hassan, and David Matthews, tr., Your Essence, Martyr: Pakistani Elegies Plainview (2011). ISBN9789699670008
- The Annual of Urdu Studies, 1981-.
- “Urdu Afsana : Soorat o Ma'na” (Urdu) by M. Hameed Shahid National Book Foundation Islamabad Pakistan 2006-1.an eminent poet of moder age akhlaque bandvi.
- Noorul Hasnain- 'Naya Afsana-Naye Naam.ISBN978-93-81029-29-9. Published by Arshia publication Delhi 110095. Edition 2012 (Article o n EK Mamnua Muhabbat Ki Kahani page 316 to 321)
- EK Mamnua Muhabbat Ki Kahani-by Rahman Abbas, Published by Educational Publishing House, Delhi-6 ISBN978-81-8223-491-8
External links[edit]
Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: Shaheena ki parwaz |
Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Hindōstānī Literature. |
- ^Samuel Hosain Lamarti (2002). The development of apostasy and punishment law in Islam 11 AH/632 AD-157 AH/774 AD. OCLC435421859.
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Urdu_literature&oldid=900113501'