Influence of Ghalib’s Poetry on Premchand’s Short-Story Kafan (Shroud)

Abstract

“When pain exceeds limits, it becomes itself a cure”, a remarkable verse by the Legendary Urdu poet Ghalib holds its grounds even today. The fact that much of the literature reflects the influence of the theory behind this verse and even in post modern times, it feels so relevant, itself speaks for the immortality an timelessness of Ghalib’s art. Much has been written about Ghalib’s poetry and his aesthetic and mystic theories. In this paper, I aim to reflect the influence of Ghalib’s poetry and his theory of two worlds (his mystic bent) on Premchand’s short- story Kafan (Shroud).