The Urdu Ghazal of Atish and the Means of Survival

Abstract

Khawaja Haider Ali Atish (1778-1847) was one of those few poets of
The Subcontinent, who had not only made their name due to their
natural fluency and disposition but also raised the status of Urdu
Ghazal. He was a staunch advocate of comprehensive traditions in
poetry and a true believer of humanism. Therefore, he has produced a
genuine optimism in his poetry which has given his readers a genuine
courage to live in the sad moments of their life. Like a true optimist,
he has always tried to extract the real bliss and pleasure out of the sad
and bleak realities of life instead of just crying and complaining. For
which he has adopted a charming style on the one hand and so has
skilfully presented the traditional characters of Urdu ghazal in his
poetic world on the other hand that they have seemed full of life and
colours. While reading his poetry with a smiling voice, it really
creates a magical experience for the reader.