Philippine E-Journals

Glimpses of the British Raj through a Poetic Lens

Yousuf Dadoo

Discipline: Literature, Philosophy

 

Abstract:

British rule over India has been all-pervasive after 1857. This article investigates the response of the Urdu poet, Akbar Ilahabadi, to it. His poetry focuses primarily on philosophical themes like politics, religion, modernity, and women's status and uses a great deal of wit, humor, satire, and parody. This lays down the foundation for a very unique style which has fascinated many literary critics over the past century and has evoked varied responses. In his case, this approach has conveyed some very profound, if not debatable, thoughts.