Josh Maleeh Abadi Ki Lafziat Aor Lafz Sazi ka Tahqeeqi wa Tanqeedi Mutalia

جوش ملیح آبادی کی لفظیات اور لفظ سازی کا تحقیقی و تنقیدی مطالعہ

Abstract

This article explores the mastery of lafziyat (verbal artistry, wordplay, and linguistic virtuosity) in Urdu poetry, positioning Nazeer Akbarabadi as its foundational figure—the "Bawa Adam" (Adam) of this craft. It highlights intermediate poets such as Insha, Mus'hafi, Mir, Ghalib, Iqbal, Faiz, Yagana, Shad Arfi, and Muzaffar Hanfi for their distinctive contributions. However, the pinnacle of this art is attributed to Josh Malihabadi, hailed as the "Shahenshah-e-Lafziyat" (Emperor of Verbal Artistry). Unlike other Urdu poets who excelled in specific domains such as linguistic prowess, semantic depth, or thematic diversity, Josh uniquely combines all these qualities. He is not merely a sovereign of words, meanings, and constructions but also reigns over elevated thought and enchanting eloquence, as reflected in his own claim: "People say I am the poet of magical expression, master of meaning, lord of words, emperor of poets. "Josh's style is singular in Urdu literature: he tames complex and weighty vocabulary with fluidity and grace, arranges words and idioms with unparalleled elegance, and infuses them with freshness through innovative imagination. Through his verbal mastery, he renders abstract concepts vivid and tangible. The article asserts that no poet matches Josh's vast lexical treasury, even surpassing Mir Anis in this regard, and credits him with creating beauty through similes, metaphors, and idioms tailored to context, achieving novelty and excellence. Overall, this paper serves as an effective and valuable resource for understanding Josh Malihabadi's unparalleled command of lafziyat in Urdu poetic tradition.