From Ghalib to Now: Tracing the Evolution of the Ghazal in India

The ghazal is more than just a poetic form - it's an emotional echo of love, loss, and longing that has flowed through centuries of Indian music and literature. From the ornate Urdu couplets of Mirza Ghalib to today’s acoustic reinterpretations, the ghazal continues to evolve without losing its soul. Let’s explores the historical arc of the ghazal in India - its origins, transformation into song, its cinematic embrace, and its modern-day revivals. 1. Where It All Began: The Persian and Arabic Roots The ghazal was born in 7th-century Arabia, rooted in qasida—a longer form of classical Arabic poetry. It found structure and emotional depth in Persian literature, particularly through poets like Rumi, Hafiz, and Saadi. These early ghazals explored spiritual yearning, often framing divine love in metaphors of human romance. 2. The Indian Arrival: Sufis, Khusro, and Urdu Emergence The ghazal reached Indian shores around the 12th century with the advent of Persian influence under the Del...