Three Tragic Voices of Urdu Poetry: Shakeb Jalali, Mustafa Zaidi, and Sara Shagufta Introduction Urdu literature has produced some of the most sensitive and powerful poetic voices in South Asia. Among these, three poets stand out not only for their remarkable work but also for the tragic way their lives ended. Shakeb Jalali, Mustafa Zaidi, and Sara Shagufta each brought a unique style and perspective to Urdu poetry, but all three died by suicide, leaving behind a legacy of unfulfilled potential and haunting verse. Shakeb Jalali (1934–1966) Shakeb Jalali, born Syed Hassan Rizvi, was a deeply introspective poet whose work explored themes of alienation, pain, and the search for identity. Despite his limited output, his ghazals and nazms resonated with an intensity rarely seen in Urdu poetry. On 12 November 1966, at the age of 32, Jalali committed suicide by throwing himself in front of a train near Sargodha. His poetry, full of raw emotion, has since become symbolic of the stru...
This ghazal, written by Afzal Shakeel Sandhu, captures the essence of profound disillusionment and a deep sense of detachment from worldly desires and fleeting dreams. It reflects the poet's internal struggle and his resignation to the transience of life and its aspirations. Description of the Ghazal **1. Embracing Emptiness:** The poet begins by expressing that despite a lifetime spent in pursuit of desires, there remains a void, a lack of fulfillment. This sentiment sets the tone for the rest of the ghazal, where the repeated refrain is the absence of longing and desire. **2. Worldly Disappointments:** He speaks of the incomplete thoughts and dreams in a transient world, highlighting the futility of efforts and the entanglements that fail to bring satisfaction. This verse portrays a world where incomplete aspirations and scattered efforts dominate, yet fail to fulfill the heart's desires. **3. The Illusion of Beauty:** The poet reflects on the superficiality of b...