An Analytical Study of Modern Urdu Poetic Genres: Haiku, Terse Verse (Salsi), and Muwashah- style Poetry

Abstract

Literature is inherently evolutionary, constantly adapting to shifting social and intellectual demands. This research article provides an analytical study of three modern genres in Urdu poetry: Haiku' Thulathi, and Muwashah-numa These genres emerged as a departure from traditional forms like Ghazal and Masnavi, allowing poets to express momentary truths and intense emotions with brevity and depth. Haiku, a Japanese import, is characterized by its 5-7-5 syllable structure and focuses on nature and human conditions. The article traces its evolution in Urdu from early translations in journals like *Saqi* and *Nigar* to its formal establishment by poets such as Afaq Siddiqui and Dr. Muhammad Amin. Thulathi a three-line genre often associated with Himayat Ali Shair, is analyzed through its technical requirements where the first and third lines typically rhyme. The study also addresses the historical debates regarding its origin, mentioning the contributions of Kausar Siddiqui. Finally, the article explores Muwashah-numa, a genre rooted in Arabic and Andalusian traditions but reinvented in Urdu by Aslam Haneef. This genre is unique for its internal structure, effectively embedding three potential ghazals within a single framework. The study concludes that these brief yet impactful genres represent the dynamic nature of the Urdu language and its ability to absorb global literary influences.