Western Influences on Majeed Amjad's Poetry

Abstract

Majeed Amjad is one of the most prominent modernist poets of Urdu literature and is often celebrated for his unique style and profound thematic depth. While his work is deeply rooted in the cultural and philosophical traditions of South Asia, it also reflects significant Western influences, particularly from European literary and intellectual movements. This study explores the extent to which Western thought, literature, and poetic techniques shaped Amjad's poetry, focusing on his engagement with modernism, existentialism, and symbolism. His exposure to Western literature, mainly through translations of European poets like T.S. Eliot, Maria Rilke, and Charles, played a pivotal role in shaping his poetic vision. His work often mirrors the fragmented, introspective, and existential themes characteristic of Western modernism while also incorporating symbolist techniques to evoke complex emotional and philosophical states. Additionally, Amjad's use of free verse and his departure from traditional Urdu poetic forms can be traced to his engagement with Western literary innovations.