Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Difference between Ghazal and Nazam (poem)

Nazam and Gazal both are the form of Urdu poetry but have quite differences. When readers try to develop interest in Urdu poetry, while reading Nazam and Gazal they often get confused between Gazal and Nazam.  Both are very polite and meaningful forms of Urdu poetry. These are some common differences between Nazam and Gazal. 

Characteristics of the Gazal:
  •          Short in size
  •          Have Rhythm in phrases called matla.
  •          Ending point of Gazal used the poet name (pen name).  In Urdu it is called takhalus.
  •          Ends at makta.
  •          Pattern of all phrases have the same rhythm.
  •          Gazal divides into complete phrases or verses which gives complete meanings.
  •          By reading individually any verse doesn’t lose its meaning.
  •          Commonly verses are not dependent on each other.

Characteristics of Nazam:

  •          No size limits.  It can be very long or very short in size. For example Nazam Shikwa written by Urdu poet Allama Iqbal is very long. Another Nazam (poem) of Allam Iqbal is “Ram”. It is very short in size.
  •          Matla and makta are not compulsory for Nazam (poem).
  •          Verses of Nazam are bound to convey the complete theme.
  •          Verses cannot convey complete theme individually. They are interlinked.
  •          Nazam covers more areas than Gazal which is a descriptive form of poetry.  

10 comments:

  1. Thank you, It,s good note to understand difference between Gajal and Najam

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  2. Thanks it really helped and clarified

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  3. Thanks it really helped and clarified

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  4. A poetry which is rich in tradition is known as the Urdu poetry and it has many different forms as well. Most of the Urdu poetry forms as well as the structures are originated from Arabic. Under the British Raj rule, the Urdu language got the pinnacle and now, it has received the official status. One of those Urdu Poetry forms is Nazm (http://www.yoalfaaz.com/nazm), which is significantly written in rhymed verse or a modern prose style. It is one of the most significant genre after Ghazal in Urdu Poetry.Ghazal is an Arabic word, which is pronounced as ‘GHUZZLE’, meaning ‘talking to women’. It was developed in 10th century AD in Persia from ‘qasida’, the Arabic verse form. In the 12th century, it was brought up by Moghul invasion in India.
    Other than Hindi and Urdu, Ghazals can be written in Dari language as well. Dari language is the Persian language, which is commonly used by the people of Afghanistan. This language is also known as the Afghan Persian.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A poetry which is rich in tradition is known as the Urdu poetry and it has many different forms as well. Most of the Urdu poetry forms as well as the structures are originated from Arabic. Under the British Raj rule, the Urdu language got the pinnacle and now, it has received the official status. One of those Urdu Poetry forms is Nazm (http://www.yoalfaaz.com/nazm), which is significantly written in rhymed verse or a modern prose style. It is one of the most significant genre after Ghazal in Urdu Poetry.Ghazal is an Arabic word, which is pronounced as ‘GHUZZLE’, meaning ‘talking to women’. It was developed in 10th century AD in Persia from ‘qasida’, the Arabic verse form. In the 12th century, it was brought up by Moghul invasion in India.
    Other than Hindi and Urdu, Ghazals can be written in Dari language as well. Dari language is the Persian language, which is commonly used by the people of Afghanistan. This language is also known as the Afghan Persian.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Is Radeef and Qaafia both or one needed in Ashaars except that of Matla?

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