JOHN DONNE AND MIRZA GHALIB: A POETIC COMPARISON OF IDEOLOGY

Abstract

This research paper explores the striking ideological parallels between the 17th-century English Metaphysical poet John Donne and the 19th-century Urdu/Persian poet Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib. Despite existing in vastly different cultural, temporal, and linguistic landscapes, both poets share a preoccupation with the synthesis of the intellect and the emotion. This study analyses their treatment of divine and profane love, their use of complex conceits, and their shared scepticism toward traditional religious dogmatism. By examining Donne’s Holy Sonnets and Ghalib’s Ghazals, the paper identifies a "metaphysical bridge" that connects Western and Eastern poetic traditions. The findings suggest that both poets utilize wit as a tool for existential inquiry, often portraying the human condition as a site of paradoxical tension between the physical world and the spiritual void. Ultimately, the paper concludes that Donne and Ghalib represent a universal literary phenomenon where intellectual rigor meets profound emotional depth.