"Existential Anguish in Ghalib's Poetry: An Existentialist Perspective" (A Study of the First Fifty Ghazals)

"کلامِ غالب میں کرب ِ وجود ۔فلسفہ وجودیت کے آئینے میں" (پہلی پچاس غزلوں کے حوالے سے)

Abstract

The research article explores existentialist themes in Ghalib's poetry, particularly focusing on the first fifty ghazals. The study delves into how Ghalib's life experiences—personal losses, societal challenges, and philosophical musings—manifest in his poetry as existential anguish, a central concern of existentialism. Existentialism emphasizes individual freedom, choice, and responsibility in an inherently meaningless world, and Ghalib’s verses resonate with these themes. The article draws parallels between European existentialist thinkers like Kierkegaard, Sartre, and Camus, and Ghalib’s exploration of human existence, freedom, and the inevitability of death. The analysis highlights how Ghalib uses metaphors, such as the transitory nature of human life, isolation, and the search for meaning, to express existential angst. His reflections on the impermanence of life, the futility of desires, and the inevitability of death reflect a deep engagement with the philosophical problems of existence. Ghalib's poetry, particularly his ghazals, is analyzed to show how he poetically grapples with the themes of freedom, despair, and meaning-making in life, despite the overwhelming presence of suffering. By doing so, Ghalib’s work transcends personal grief, becoming a universal commentary on human existence. The article thus frames Ghalib not just as a poet of his era but as a timeless figure engaged with existentialist concerns.

Key Words:  Existentialism، Ghalib's Poetry, Existential Anguish, Freedom and Choice, Meaning of Life, Mirza Ghalib