Evolving Landscape of Urdu Poetry

“Global scholars converge to explore evolving landscape of Urdu poetry”; “Urdu a language of poetic soul, social consciousness: Financial Commissioner”; “GDC Ganderbal organizes two days International Conference”; and “Shantmanu inaugurates international Urdu Conference at GDC Ganderbal”. These are some of the headings of the news reports published in between 10^th and 12^th of July, 2025 regarding a two-day International Conference on “Urdu Shaiyiri: Riwayat, Jiddat aur Asri Taqaazay” (Udu Poetry: Tradition, Innovation, and Contemporary Demands), organized by Department of Urdu, Government Degree College (GDC), Ganderbal on 9^th and 10^th July, 2025.

Initially proposed in May 2025, the call for papers (CFP) for this conference was announced in mid-May with 15^th June as deadline for abstract/ paper proposal submissions. The organizers received an overwhelming response from research scholars and faculty members of different educational institutions—from Kashmir to Karnataka—and out of these, eighty-two (82) abstracts were selected, and were presented in three technical sessions (two offline and one online). The conference witnessed an intellectually vibrant atmosphere where scholars, poets, and researchers from across India and abroad came together (in hybrid mode) to explore the depth and dynamism of Urdu poetry.

The inaugural session was graced by the worthy Financial Commissioner, Higher Education Department, J&K, Shri Shatmanyu (IAS) as chief guest, who also delivered the presidential address. It was moderated by Prof. Nusrat Nabi (AP, Urdu) who, while setting the tone for the proceedings, reflected on how the Urdu literary tradition has long served as a mirror to the region’s cultural richness and collective sensibilities. In her Introductory Remarks, Dr. Jamsheeda Akhter (HOD, Department of Urdu and Organizing Secretary of the Conference) apprised the gathering of the thematic relevance of the conference and its intended objective to promote academic engagement and cultural dialogue in the context of contemporary literary discourse. In her Welcome Address, Prof. Fouzia Fatima (Principal, GDC Ganderbal) offered a warm welcome to the guests and participants, reflecting both pride and purpose. She emphasized the academic significance of the conference in the present literary and cultural landscape and reiterated the institution’s commitment to nurturing platforms that inspire dialogue and critical thinking.

The Keynote Address was delivered by a distinguished scholar of Urdu literature, Prof. Khawaja Mohammad Ikramuddin (Professor at the Centre of Indian Languages, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi), who offered a comprehensive overview of the evolution of Urdu Shayari, highlighting the balance between tradition and innovation. He demonstrated how classical forms and contemporary sensibilities continue to shape and respond to the changing socio-cultural and political milieu. His insightful analysis was deeply appreciated by the audience.

Adding an international dimension to the event, two special online addresses were delivered by Prof. Muhayyo Abdur Akhmonov (a well-known Urdu scholar from Tashkent State University, Uzbekistan) who offered a global perspective on Urdu poetry, highlighting its universal literary appeal across cultures and geographies, and by Dr. Hager Kadry Mohammad Galaby (Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt) who highlighted the contributions of Ahmed Rahi in Urdu poetry and the use of his poetry in Bollywood music before and after the Partition of India and Pakistan.

Shri Shantmanu (IAS), in his Presidential Address, emphasized the integration of cultural and literary literacy into contemporary education, highlighting Urdu as not merely a language, but a medium of poetic imagination, emotional intelligence, and social awareness. He commended the institution for hosting a forum of international relevance and appreciated the Department of Urdu for its role in preserving the region’s linguistic heritage and civilizational ethos.

On this occasion, the college bi-annual Newsletter, Sindh, as well as Abstract Book of the Conference was also released by the dignitaries.

Thereafter, in three technical sessions, viz., “Urdu Shayiri aur Numayinda Shu’ara ke Afkar” (Urdu Poetry and the Philosophical Thought of Prominent Poets) and “Urdu Shayiri main Jadeed Rujhaanaat—I and II” (Contemporary Trends in Urdu Poetry), eighty-two (82) papers were presented, covering a wide range of themes under the broader rubric of the proposed theme: e.g., in first technical session, some of the themes covered were concept of Sufism in Ghalib’s poetry, Iqbal’s religious philosophy, Akbar Allahabadi’s poetry of humor and satire, Urdu poets of Shehr-e-Khas (Srinagar) Kashmir, poetry as a vehicle of philosophical thought, changing language patterns in Urdu poetry, poetry as an expression of emotions, ecocritical analysis of select Urdu poets, the language of New Urdu Poetry post-1980s, the future of Urdu poetry in Digital Age, etc. Similarly, in second technical session, the broad themes covered were feminism and feminist voices in Urdu poetry, social and political awareness in Urdu poetry, Urdu poetry in Bollywood songs, depiction of nature in Urdu poetry, Urdu poetry vis-à-vis Digital Age, Youth and their passion for poetry, and other inter-related themes. In third session, several papers of the session focused on the selected themes in the poetry of Iqbal, Nasir Kazimi, Akbar Allahabadi, Hafeez Jalandhari, Hyder Ali Aatash, Sardar Jafri, and themes like socio-political awareness and feminist voices in Urdu poetry, spiritual aspects of Urdu poetry, and other aspects.

Each session ended with a general Q&A session followed by feedback and comments from the observer and the chair of the session. Prof. Ikramuddin (JNU), Dr. Tayyab Ali Kharabadi (The New College, Chennai), and Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Ganie (Iqbal Institute of Culture and Philosophy, Kashmir University) presided over the technical sessions, respectively; and Dr. Mohd Iqbal Malik (Amar Singh College, Srinagar), Dr. Liyaqat Ali (IGNOU, New Delhi), and Dr. Quaseem Akhter (Marwari College, Bihar) acted as the observers for these sessions.

The conference culminated with a Valedictory session, which was graced by Prof. Ikramuddin, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Ganie, Dr. Quaseem, Dr. Liyaqat Ali, Prof. Fouzia Fatima, and Prof. Mujeeb Ahmad Kawoosa (Vice-Principal, GDC Ganderbal). In this session, Prof. Ikramuddin presented a special address, summarizing the key themes and expressing satisfaction with the conference’s success. Prof. Fouzia Fatima also expressed her thoughts, commending the efforts of the organizers and participants. On this occasion few participants, including Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Ganie (AP, Urdu, GDC Kokernag) and Dr. Altaf Hussain Yatoo (AP, Islamic Studies, GDC Sogam, Kupwara), also presented their feedback with regard to the conference, its organization, and its coverage of topics with respect to the proposed theme. The session was moderated by Dr. Jamsheeda Akhter, who also presented the Report of the conference as Organizing Secretary. Thereafter, certificates and mementos were distributed among the participants and organizers. On this occasion, Dr. Tauseef Ahmad Parray (AP, Islamic Studies) and Dr. Muzammil Ashraf Makhdoomi (AP, Biochemistry), who acted as Assistant Organizing Secretaries, were felicitated with mementos for their significant role in the successful organization of this conference.

 Dr. Tauseef Ahmad Parray is Assistant Professor, Islamic Studies, at GDC Ganderbal and acted as the Assistant Organizing Secretary for this conference. Ideas are personal