The Penguin Book of Modern Urdu Poetry

Download or read book The Penguin Book of Modern Urdu Poetry written by Julian Nangle and published by Puffin Books. This book was released on 1986 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The poets represented in this collection have made a major contribution to the development of Urdu poetry during this century. In their hands it has been transformed from a literature of philosophy and psychology to one that has given a voice to the suppressed anger of the Urdu-speaking people. Those poets with the most influence, both popular and literary, include Faiz, who used the structure of the gazal, or love lyric, for his own political ends; Rashed, whose free verse represented a break with tradition; Akhtar-ul-Iman, who used an everyday style to address innovative topics; and Sardar J'afri, the intellectual and radical poet who brought a revolutionary fervour to his work. These and other poets, some of them women, document the prevailing moods of twentieth-century India, sometimes at the risk of imprisonment. From the optimism of the forties after the separation of Pakistan, they trace the consequent disappointment of the fifties when the problems remained unsolved. Then comes the scepticism of the sixties and the subsequent introversion that has led to greater artistry. This selection of their work imparts the flavour of life in the sub-continent and attempts to convey the beauty and lyricism of the Urdu original." --