This book examines the emergence of Urdu as a literary and Poetic language in the 18th century, highlighting its engagement with diverse regional cultures and communities in South Asia.
Revisiting the Origins of Urdu Poetry reframes the history of Urdu within the diverse contexts from which it emerged. It places the earliest Urdu poets and their craft in the lively social gatherings, bazaars, shrines, and courts of 18th century South Asia.
Purnima Dhawan is Associate Professor of History at the University of Washington, USA. She is the author of When Sparrows Became Hawks: The Making of the Sikh Warrior Tradition (2011).
Heidi Pauwels is Professor at the University of Washington, USA. She is the author of Mobilizing Krishna's World: The Writings of Prince Savant Singh of Kishangarh (2017).