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Batch 1

Understanding Classical Urdu Poetry

Go beyond simply reading poetry, learn to uncover its layers, decode its nuances, and truly experience the depth and beauty of Classical Urdu Poetry.

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Watch Intro

02:30 mins

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Start Date

TBD

Enrollment Ends

TBD

Duration

10 Weeks

Every Sunday

07: pm IST

Format

Live Online

About The Course

A sher can be beautiful at first reading, but its real richness often lies beneath the surface, in its language, imagery, references, and layers of meaning.

Classical Urdu poetry is built on this depth, and this course will help you learn how to recognise, interpret, and appreciate it.

Explore the journey of Classical Urdu poetry from the Deccan to Delhi and Lucknow, along with its language, recurring themes, symbols, literary traditions, and poetic devices.

Through selected works of Wali, Mir, Dard, Sauda, Ghalib, Momin, Aatish, Nasikh, Zauq, Daagh, and others, you’ll learn how to read a sher closely, understand its cultural and literary references, uncover its many layers, and appreciate the craft behind memorable poetry.

If you love Urdu poetry and want to understand it better, this course is for you.

Course Highlights

20+ Hours Learning

Weekly live classes and additional resources for excellent learning outcomes.

Classes on Weekends

No extra burden on loaded weekdays. Join the live sessions on Sundays.

Noted Faculty

Learn from the most esteemed Urdu poets and scholars of our time.

Class Resources

Pre-class study material and practice handbooks for comprehensive learning.

Doubt-Clearing Sessions

Doubts will not hold you back. Dedicated sessions for doubt-clearing.

Community Access

Become a part of a flourishing community of passionate learners.

Course Curriculum

Module 1

Foundations of Classical Urdu Poetry

Understanding what the term “classical” means in literature and poetry.
Exploring the key features that distinguish a classical literary tradition.
Understanding what constitutes Classical Urdu poetry and how it emerged as a distinct poetic tradition.
Historical development of Classical Urdu poetry and the literary cultures that shaped it.
Major periods, centres and literary contexts associated with the Urdu classical tradition.
Defining characteristics of Classical Urdu poetry, including its language, themes, imagery, conventions and poetic sensibility.
Key poetic techniques: Mazmoon-Bandi, Ma‘ni-Aafrini, Ri‘ayat-e-Lafzi and Ri‘ayat-e-Ma‘navi, and their role in shaping meaning and expression.

Module 2

Traditions and Masters of Classical Urdu Poetry

The Dakkani poetic tradition: its distinctive language, themes and style, with a study of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, Wali Dakkani and Siraj Aurangabadi.
The rise of the Delhi school: Mir Taqi Mir, Mir Dard and Sauda, and the changing language, themes and sensibility of Urdu poetry.
The Lucknow school: its literary culture and poetic style through poets such as Nasikh, Atish, Mushafi and Jur’at.
The nineteenth-century classical tradition: Ghalib, Zauq, Shefta, Bahadur Shah Zafar and their individual approaches to language, thought and expression.
Dagh Dehlvi and the later classical idiom: the refinement and continuation of the established poetic tradition.
The afterlife of the classical tradition: how classical Urdu poetics continued, changed and remained influential in later Urdu poetry up to the modern period.

Module 3

Close Reading and Appreciation of Classical Urdu Poetry

Close reading of representative texts by major classical Urdu poets.
Analysis of language, themes and poetic craft in relation to their literary and cultural setting.
Comparing different poetic voices and styles across periods and schools.
Developing the ability to read, interpret and appreciate Classical Urdu poetry independently.

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