Images of India’s Muslim past in modern Hindi poetry – five poems on three cities by Kunwar Narain
Images of India’s Muslim past in modern Hindi poetry – five poems on three cities by Kunwar Narain

Summary/Abstract: Five lyrical works – poetic images of India’s Muslim past – written by Kunwar Narain are to be the subject of my observations. Towards Delhi [Dillī kī taraf], The epoch of today [Āj kā zamānā], Passages (Fatehpur Sikri) [Rāste (Fatehpur Sīkrī)], Soulless body (Fatehpur Sikri) [Anātmā deh (Fatehpur Sīkrī)], and Lucknow [Lakhnaū], belong to one poetry collection titled In front of us [Apne sāmne], published in 19792. The five works form a kind of historical landscape, in which the components such as image, thought and word evoke the feelings of sympathy and empathy. As for their content – these poetic reflections call to mind the memories of probably the most turbulent times in the history of India – the years of Muslim invasion and domination. They refer to three Indian cities which were of great importance during the times of Muslim rule in India. However, before moving to some more detailed remarks about the poems, I believe it necessary to make a digression and recall a few historical facts.

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