Orientalists' Selections of Hindustani (Urdu) Poetry and Prose: A Research Perspective

(From the beginning to the first half of the 19th century)

Abstract

This article deals with the selections of writers of the first half of the 19th century by orientalists and highlights how these selections have been compiled for curriculum requirements. It was taken into consideration that such writers should be given importance in selections whose language is simple, and the depiction of Indian culture is prominent. In the 19^th century, the impact of Urdu poetry and prose selections was prominently profound and advantageous in shaping literacy, cultural and scholarly landscape not only in south Asia but also in a broader global context. This discussion explores this specific contribution of major orientalists in preparing the selections of Urdu poetry and prose which show their understanding of Hindustani poetry and prose in social and political perspective of that era.it also reveals their impact on the identity and global expansion of Urdu language. This article is a critical analysis of these selections that how these selections were made, and which were the social, political and educational motives behind this activity.