Shafeeq Asif's Mahiya Writing

Abstract

Shafiq Asif is regarded as one of the prominent contemporary Urdu poets who has demonstrated his creative excellence not only in the genres of ghazal, nazm, and prose poem but also in Mahiya writing. By preserving the traditional structure, rhythm, and spirit of the Punjabi Mahiya, he has enriched Urdu Mahiya with artistic refinement and literary significance. His two collections, Jab Khwab Bikharte Hain and Ik Chehra Banaunga, reflect his serious commitment to and mastery of this poetic form. Love remains the central theme of Shafiq Asif’s Mahiyas; however, his poetry also encompasses a wide range of subjects, including separation and union, the portrayal of the beloved’s beauty, hope, remembrance, longing, social values, human relationships, the transience of worldly life, cultural consciousness, and allusions to Punjabi romantic folk tales. His Mahiyas are distinguished by simplicity of expression, depth of thought, sincerity of emotion, effective use of symbolism and imagery, melodiousness, and lyrical beauty. Overall, Shafiq Asif’s Mahiya writing presents a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity. Rather than confining the genre to romantic expression alone, he has expanded its scope by incorporating contemporary intellectual, social, and cultural concerns. These qualities have earned him a distinctive position among his contemporaries and established his contribution as a valuable addition to the tradition of Urdu Mahiya.