DefinePK

Abstract

Persian poetry in the Indian subcontinent blossomed with the advent of the Ghaznavid conquerors. From that moment, a radiant tradition took root, soon enriched by the genius of poets such as Amir Khusraw, Bedil Dehlavi, and Mirza Ghalib, who elevated the subcontinent to a distinguished place in the vast realm of Persian letters. With the British ascendancy in the nineteenth century, Persian lost its status as the official language, yet the spirit of its poetry endured and preserved in the hearts of Indian people. Among the inheritors of the Persian poetry stands Mufti Imam Bakhsh of Batala, a poet whose Diwan remains a notable contribution to the tradition. His collection encompasses the classical forms of Persian poetry—the Qasida, Na't, Ghazal, Mukhammas, and Tarji'band—each reflecting the aesthetic refinement and spiritual depth of his art. The present study offers an introduction to his Diwan and undertakes an analytical exploration of its poetic and thematic dimensions.