The Tradition Of Aesthetics In Sindhi Basic Poetry

Abstract

The tradition of aesthetics in Sindhi poetry has been primarily transmitted through folk poets. This folk poetry forms the heritage of Sindh, encompassing our past, present, aesthetics, sensibilities, and thought processes — critical elements in the development of our civilization. This research paper examines the foundations of Sindhi classical poetry by exploring its primary source and inspiration: folk poetry. It argues that folk poetry serves as the basis for aesthetic poetry. A notable example of this can be found in the 'Seengaar' genre within the Sindhi folk poetry tradition. The 'Seengaar' genre introduces themes of beauty, delicacy, purity, and refinement, often associated with the beauty of the beloved. In this paper, I demonstrate that classical Sindhi poetry has evolved from these aesthetic qualities contained in folk poetry. While the authentic era of classical poetry in Sindhi begins with the Samma dynasty, its roots can be traced back to the Soomra period. This research documents how aesthetics in classical poetry have developed over these time periods. In this paper, I highlight the contributions of pioneers in classical Sindhi poetry, including Qazi Qadan, Makhdom Nooh Shah, Abdul Karim Bulriwaro, Shah Lutafullah Qadri, Meyoon Shah Inayat Rizvi, and Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, and how they introduced significant concepts of aesthetics.