Muqadma Sher O Shayari Pdf 18

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Muqaddama Sher-o-Shayari: A Critical Manifesto of Urdu Poetry

Muqaddama Sher-o-Shayari (The Preface to Poetry and Poetics) is a seminal work of Urdu literary criticism by Khwaja Altaf Hussain Hali (1837-1914), a prominent poet, critic, biographer, and translator of the 19th century. Hali is considered as one of the pioneers of modernism in Urdu literature, who advocated for a reform in the style and content of Urdu poetry in accordance with the changing times and needs of the society. His Muqaddama Sher-o-Shayari, written in 1893, is regarded as the first critical manifesto of Urdu poetry, which laid down the principles and criteria for evaluating and appreciating poetry in Urdu.

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Background and Context

Hali was born in Panipat, where he received his early education. He moved to Delhi, where he learned Arabic and Persian and came under the influence of two eminent poets, Mirza Ghalib and Sheikh Muhammad Ibrahim Zauq. He also developed a close friendship with Muhammad Husain Azad, another influential poet and critic of his time. Hali witnessed the decline and fall of the Mughal Empire and the aftermath of the 1857 revolt, which had a profound impact on his worldview and sensibility. He realized that the traditional forms and themes of Urdu poetry, such as ghazal and qasida, were no longer relevant or adequate to express the contemporary realities and challenges faced by the Muslims in India. He also observed that the language and style of Urdu poetry had become artificial, obscure, and clichéd, lacking originality and creativity.

Hali was inspired by the reformist ideas of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the founder of Aligarh Movement, who advocated for rationalism, modern education, and social progress for the Muslims in India. Hali joined Sir Syed's journal Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq (The Reform of Morals) as a contributor and editor, where he wrote articles on various topics related to literature, culture, history, and religion. He also translated several works from Arabic, Persian, and English into Urdu, such as Tabaqat-ul-Arz (The Classes of Earth) by Al-Biruni, Gulistan (The Rose Garden) by Saadi, The Life of Mohammad by Sir William Muir, and The Light of Asia by Edwin Arnold. Hali also wrote biographies of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Mirza Ghalib, and Saadi.

Content and Analysis

Muqaddama Sher-o-Shayari is divided into four chapters: The Definition of Poetry, The Origin and Development of Poetry, The Purpose and Function of Poetry, and The Criticism and Appreciation of Poetry. In each chapter, Hali discusses various aspects of poetry in general and Urdu poetry in particular, drawing examples from Arabic, Persian, English, Hindi, Sanskrit, and other languages. He also compares and contrasts the poetry of different nations and epochs, highlighting their merits and demerits.

In the first chapter, Hali defines poetry as "the expression of emotions in a measured language". He argues that poetry is not merely a matter of rhyme and meter, but also of imagination, creativity, originality, elegance, beauty, harmony, coherence, clarity, appropriateness, and naturalness. He criticizes the excessive use of metaphors, similes, allusions, puns, wordplay, hyperbole, and other rhetorical devices in Urdu poetry, which he considers as artificial and obscure. He also rejects the imitation of classical poets and their themes, which he regards as outdated and irrelevant.

In the second chapter, Hali traces the origin and development of poetry from the ancient times to the modern era. He argues that poetry is a natural and universal phenomenon, which reflects the emotions, thoughts, and experiences of human beings in different situations and circumstances. He divides the history of poetry into four stages: The Age of Simplicity, The Age of Refinement, The Age of Decline, and The Age of Reform. He analyzes the characteristics and achievements of each stage, with reference to the poetry of various nations and languages. The Age of Simplicity is the earliest stage of poetry, which corresponds to the primitive and nomadic life of human beings. In this stage, poetry is spontaneous, simple, natural, and expressive. It deals with the basic themes of life, such as love, war, death, religion, nature, and morality. Hali cites the examples of Arabic pre-Islamic poetry, Hebrew psalms, Greek epics, Indian Vedas, and Chinese odes as the representatives of this stage. The Age of Refinement is the second stage of poetry, which corresponds to the civilized and urban life of human beings. In this stage, poetry becomes more sophisticated, refined, polished, and artistic. It deals with the complex themes of life, such as culture, society, politics, philosophy, science, and art. Hali cites the examples of Arabic Islamic poetry, Persian ghazals and masnavis, Greek tragedies and comedies, Indian kavyas and bhakti poems, and English sonnets and dramas as the representatives of this stage. The Age of Decline is the third stage of poetry, which corresponds to the decadent and corrupt life of human beings. In this stage, poetry becomes more artificial, obscure, and clichéd. It deals with the trivial and frivolous themes of life, such as flattery, praise, satire, and humor. Hali cites the examples of Arabic post-Islamic poetry, Persian qasidas and rubais, Greek pastoral and erotic poems, Indian prabandhas and rekhtis, and English metaphysical and restoration poems as the representatives of this stage.

In the fourth chapter, Hali discusses the purpose and function of poetry in relation to the society and the individual. He argues that poetry is not only a source of pleasure and entertainment, but also a means of education and enlightenment. He asserts that poetry should serve the moral, social, and intellectual interests of the people, and should reflect the spirit and values of the age. He criticizes the poets who write for personal fame, wealth, or patronage, and who ignore the needs and problems of the society. He also criticizes the critics who judge poetry by superficial standards, such as rhyme, meter, or vocabulary, and who neglect the substance, meaning, and impact of poetry.

Hali proposes a reform in Urdu poetry, which he calls "nazm-e-jadid" (the new poem). He defines nazm-e-jadid as a poem that is written in a clear, simple, and natural language, that deals with the relevant and important themes of life, such as history, science, politics, religion, and culture, that expresses the emotions and thoughts of the poet in an original and creative way, and that influences the mind and heart of the reader in a positive and constructive way. He gives examples of his own poems, such as Musaddas-e-Hali (The Six-Line Stanza of Hali), Shikwa-e-Hind (The Complaint of India), Chup ki Dad (The Praise of Silence), and Hub-e-Watan (The Love of Homeland), as well as some poems by his contemporaries, such as Iqbal, Zafar Ali Khan, Akbar Allahabadi, and Nazeer Akbarabadi, as the models of nazm-e-jadid.

Muqaddama Sher-o-Shayari is a landmark work of Urdu literary criticism, which has influenced generations of poets and critics in Urdu literature. It is widely regarded as a masterpiece of Urdu prose, which combines eloquence, elegance, and erudition. It is also a valuable source of information and insight into the history and culture of Urdu poetry and its relation to other languages and literatures.

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Conclusion

Muqaddama Sher-o-Shayari is a remarkable work of Urdu literary criticism, which has challenged and changed the course of Urdu poetry. It has introduced a new vision and direction for Urdu poetry, which is based on realism, rationalism, and relevance. It has also established a new standard and criterion for Urdu poetry, which is based on clarity, simplicity, and naturalness. It has inspired and influenced many poets and critics in Urdu literature, who have followed and developed the ideas and principles of Hali. It has also enriched and enhanced the language and style of Urdu prose, which has become more fluent, graceful, and expressive.

Muqaddama Sher-o-Shayari is not only a work of criticism, but also a work of creativity. It is not only a work of analysis, but also a work of synthesis. It is not only a work of prose, but also a work of poetry. It is a work that combines the best of both worlds: the world of tradition and the world of modernity, the world of art and the world of science, the world of emotion and the world of reason, the world of beauty and the world of utility. It is a work that reflects the genius and vision of Hali, who was a poet, critic, biographer, translator, reformer, and leader. It is a work that deserves to be read, studied, and appreciated by all lovers of Urdu literature.

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