The most popular form of Urdu poetry that is used by poets is Ghazal
. We call it subjective form of poetry. Ghazals are followed in popularity by a demonstrative from of poetry which is objective in nature. Nazm comprises of the features:
It is an objective kind of poetry.
often used for narration
expressive or evocative,
Moralizing.
Ironic in nature.
Classical form of Nazm
Nazm has a focal point around which the entire subject of poetry revolves. In the classical from of poetry these Nazm where written under a specific pattern and thus they were classified as follows:
Masnavi:
masnavi is one of the classical forms of poetry classified under the head of nazm. It is long descriptive poem used for narration. It has rhyming couplets. It is written on a particular theme. Mostly it is written on romantic, didactic and religious themes.
Marsia:
Marsia is another form of Urdu Nazm. This is particularly used to express sorrow and pain on the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain in Karbala. It is an elegy that is used specially in a month of Muharam by a large number of Muslims all over the world.
Qasida
This is the third and the most common form of Nazm. It is generally used to praise a Nobel and honorable personality. In the past it was used for the praising kings and also saints.
All these poems have a single focal point around which the material of poem revolves. These are written with logical reasoning and were drawn towards a conclusion at the end. But these are however quite different from the Nazm of the modern time. History tells about the modern style and evolution of Nazm which came into action later in the nineteenth century.
Difference between Ghazal and Nazm:
A lot of readers, who have just started to develop interest in Urdu poetry, are confused about the difference between Ghazal and Nazm.
Ghazal has the following characteristics:
Ghazal is a shorter in size.
It has rhyming couplets. These are called matla.
Ghazals end at makta. Maqta might contain the pen name of the poet which is called takhalus.
It is written in a rhyming pattern.
Is divided in individual verses that represent a complete meaning.
Verses don't lose its meaning if read individually.
Verses might not be consistent.
Here are few characteristics of a Nazm:
Nazm doesn't have any limit to for its size. Shikwa is an example of a long Nazm written by Iqbal. Another example of short Nazm of Iqbal is the Nazm called Ram.
Nazm is not restricted to a matla or a makta.
Is not restricted rhyming words rhyming words.
Nazm bounds the verses to the theme of a Nazm.
Verses are interlinked and won't make sense if read individually.
It can cover more areas as compared to a Ghazals due to its descriptive nature.