PROSE EXPRESSION IN MODERN URDU POETRY: CREATION OR SKEPTICISM?
جدید اردو نظم میں نثری اظہار: تخلیق یا تشکیک؟
Abstract
The evolution of modern Urdu poetry has witnessed a dynamic shift through the incorporation of prose expression within its framework. This study critically examines the role of prose-like elements in modern Urdu Nazm, exploring whether they reflect a creative expansion or a skeptical deviation from traditional poetics. The emergence of free verse and prose poetry (nasri nazm) challenged established metrical and rhythmic norms, leading to debates about the nature and legitimacy of such poetic expressions. By analyzing representative works of prominent poets like N.M. Rashed, Meeraji, and Afzal Ahmed Syed, the paper investigates the interplay between narrative form, poetic consciousness, and aesthetic experimentation. The research argues that prose expression in modern Urdu Nazm is not merely a stylistic choice but a conscious creative act responding to shifting socio-cultural and philosophical paradigms. While some critics see this development as a rupture, others regard it as a necessary innovation, aligning poetry with modern sensibilities. The study situates this discourse within broader literary, psychological, and philosophical contexts to assess whether prose expression represents a new form of poetic creation or an existential questioning of the poetic form itself.
Key Words: Modern Urdu Nazm, Prose Expression, Creativity, Poetic Skepticism, Free Verse, Literary Evolution, Aesthetic Form
