GRAMMAR OF MELANCHOLY: A SYNCHRONIC STUDY OF ZAFAR'S POETRY

Abstract

​This research investigates the synchronic linguistic transfiguration of poetic anthology by Zafar's from pro or post period of 1857 war under the colonial transition. Primarily as a civilizational trauma under sociolinguistic aspects, It examines the literary output of Bahadur Shah Zafar (1775-1862) to adopt purely a paradigm of Qualitative Structuralist Framework. It utilizes the Theory of Sign by Saussure (1916) as major and the theory of Binary Oppositions by a French anthropologist Lévi-Strauss (1958). Binary opposition theory maps the semiotic rupture triggered by the War of Freedom(1857). The study goes with five selected Ghazals, a well known and soulful poetic genre in Urdu literature, originated around 7th-century from Arabic verse ,consist of autonomous rhyming couplets (shers) to explore themes of love, loss, longing, and mysticism, to follow the structure of radif (refrain) and qafia (rhyme) strictly are: “Lagta Nahin Hai Dil Mera, Ujray Diyar Mein”, “ Bhari Hai Dil Men Jo Hasrat, Kahon Tu Kis Sy Kahon”,  “Jigar K Tukray Huwey, Jal K Dil Kabab Huwa”, “Baat Karni Mujhay Mushkil, Kabhi Aisi Tu Na Thi” and the last associated with Zafer “Na Kisi Ki Ankh Ka Noor Hon, Na Kisi K Dil Ka Qarar Hon”. The study explores the analytical relationship between the Signifier and Signified, with somatic trauma  and semiotic ruptures under the philosophy of “Ontological Erasure” through a violently destabilized system with a null signifier. The data reveals the "Grammar of Melancholy.” That which is present in these verses, not merely a collection of emotional anthology but a structured linguistic phenomenon to characterize a profound literalization of the signifier with metaphysical tropes. It was forced into geographic indicators of colonial confinement and the reality of displacement. Further to demonstrate the analytical and systemic dominance of negative poles within established binaries e.g. sovereignty vs exile and crown vs dust to reflect a pervasive semiotic crisis in textual record. It preserves the structural logic of Mughal identity after its collapse with focus on the mighty Mughal king Zafar, his period of exile in Rangoon. Apart from the traditional diachronic and biographical interpretations that dominate Urdu literary criticism, this study adopts ultimately a Synchronic Structuralist framework of  Saussure and Dr. Gopi Chand Narang with Urdu context . In short, the objective is to picturize the study in terms as a "Grammar of Melancholy."