Here is a collection of informative and perceptive essays on some landmark figures of Urdu literature. Diveded into three sections — poetry, fiction and drama, in that order — the galaxy is headed by Ghalib and Iqbal, the two fabled poets of Urdu. Flanking them are five outstanding modern poets, viz., Faiz, Sardar Jafri, Makhdoom Muhiuddin, Akhtarul Iman and Munibur Rehman. A general essay on the secular and humanist traditions of Urdu literature precedes the studies. Among the novelists are some of the perennials — Prem Chand, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and Quratul-Ain Haider — flanked by two significant modern writers — Anwar Azeem and Pegham Afaqi. A comprehensive essay on Urdu drama and dramatists makes up the third and final section. Trends in theatre movements are also discussed in the essay. What kind of readership does one envisage for this uncommon work? Writers in other languages and students researching on Urdu literature are of course the obvious targeted readers. It may also be of interest to the younger generations of Urdu-knowing families who are interested in Urdu literature but are not well-versed in the script. And above all, we hope this book will be read by lovers of Urdu poetry and literature all over the world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Zahida Zaidi
Zahida Zaidi has been a professor of English at A.M.U. Aligarh (India) she has had a brilliant academic career including a degree in English Literature from the university of Cambridge (U.K.) her scholarship of English, American and European Literature is both extensive and deep, her special interest being drama, particularly Modern Western Drama. And she has written extensively and with acumen on this theme. Her dramatic vision has been enriched by her practical involvement in the theatre. She has directed and staged a large number of plays including the works of Shakespeare lbsen, Shaw, Chekhov, Pirandello, Williams, lonesco and several Urdu writers. She has also translated in Urdu more than a dozen masterpieces of western drama, including the works of Chekhov, Sarte, Pirandello Beckett, lonesco, Manuel de-Pedrofo and Bertolt brecht. Prof. Zahida Zaidi is a distinguished poet and dramatis both in Urdu and English. Her poetry is characterized by depth of feweling and thought universality of vision, delicacy of poetic form and uniqueness of imagery and symbolism. Her plays are focused on significant themes of social, psychological and philosophical import and reveal her extraordinary grip over form and technique. They are also eminently suited for the stage. She has won several awards for her poetry and drama. Her other interests are phiolosophy science, history, religion art and music Prof. Zahida zaidi has travelled widely and as a creative writer and distinguished intellectual has participated in numerous literary, social and cultural events both India and abroad.
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