Maan quoted a couplet from an Urdu ghazal to the effect that the hunter could turn into the hunted, ... (p. 21)
A ghazal is a form of poetry that consists of five or more rhyming couplets and a refrain. This poetic form originated in the pre-Islamic Arabic verse, and became prominent in the 13th and 14th century partially due to the Persian poets Rufi and Hafiz.
Traditionally a ghazal deals with unattainable love, both physical and spiritual. Although, it is mostly a form of Urdu poetry, the ghazal today can be found in poetry of many languages.
In India and Pakistan, classical ghazals were set to music and sung.
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My glossary for Vikram Seth's novel, "A Suitable Boy"
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Page numbers refer to the 1st U.S. paperback edition published by HarperPerennial (a division HarperCollins Publishers) in 1993.
1 comment:
What's most attractvie to me in the book? Certainly Music and Ghazal are among those of my best favorites.
How I wish I could enjoy a live performance of Ghazal in India!
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