A HISTORY OF URDU LITERATURE seeks to present a compact survey of the rich and varied contribution of Urdu to the Indian literary mainstream through centuries of shared creative endeavour and inspiration. Designed to serve as a reliable guide for interested readers from sister languages. It brings into focus the currents and cross currents that have shaped its history and produced personalities of distinction and prestige whose works have stood the test of time. The lucid and balanced treatment of the numerous forms of poetry and prose has both range and depth and reveals a broad understanding of the historical forces behind deviations from convention and transformations in styles that have given us perennial sources of joy and intellectual fulfilment.

The dynamism of its patriotic poetry, in particular, during the various phases of our freedom struggle and the cohesive absorption of the classical works of all the major religions has been highlighted appropriately. The vigorous role of journalism has also received due notice. Despite pressure on space in the brief survey, essential specimens of poetry have been added in original along with prose renderings in English to mirror the conflicting demands of a vibrant tradition of lyricism, fervour of nationalism and a resurgence of social realism.

About the Author:

ALI JAWAD ZAIDI (b. 1916) is a scholar, poet and critic of repute and has won the prestigious Padmashri award for his meritorious services in the field of literature. Author of about 60 books, he has written in Urdu, Hindi, English and occasionally in persian as well. In the present volume, written primarily for the non-Urdu readers, he surveys, evaluates and interprets the achievements of the language with a rare fairness and understanding.

Back of Book:

It was a happy idea of the Sahitya Akademi to organise the publication of historical studies of the literatures of our various languages in India. . . It may not be possible for many of us to have a direct acquaintance with the literatures of our various languages. But it is certainly desirable that every person of India who claims to be educated should know something about languages other than his own. . . In order to help in this process, the Sahitya Akademi has been. . . sponsoring these histories of Indian literatures. The Akademi is thus widening and deepening the basis of our cultural knowledge and making people realize the essential unity of India's thought and literary background.

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU