Akhtar Sheerani, Hafeez Jalandhari, Abdul Hameed Adam, and Josh Malihabadi — the pioneers of Urdu Romanticism

Abstract

Romanticism in literature is the reaction of classicism. It is a strange treatment of beauty. The Key points of Romanticism are feelings instead of thoughts, easy language instead difficult phrase, village life instead of city life, no strict observation of rhyme scheme, patriotism and nostalgia. In English poetry this movement started in 1798 in reaction to classicism with the publication of Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge. In Urdu Poetry it is the reaction of literature for the sake of life and preaching of social and moral values by Ali Garh Movement. Sir Syed and his fellows emphasis on prose and Nazm in poetry. The literature created by them lost charm and delicacy. It became monotonous and people were fed up by this kind of literature. So, poets like Josh Malihaabadi, Hafeez Jalandhry , Abdul Hameed Adam and Akhtar Sherani began to write on the topics which had a special attraction for the people. Akhtar Sherani portrayal of village scenes and his sonnets made him a great romantic poet. From 1890 onward the romantic poetry was written till the beginning of Progressive Movement in Indian in 1936.