6.1.2 Historical texts

Overview of Historical Urdu Texts

Historical Urdu texts open a window into how Urdu developed as a language of court, faith, politics, and everyday life. In this chapter, we will look at key genres and authors, typical stylistic features, and how to approach such texts as an advanced learner. The focus is not on poetry, but on prose that records, interprets, or shapes history.

You will see many original Urdu examples in Nastaliq transliteration (Roman Urdu) with English glosses, so you can connect form and meaning.

---

Major Periods and Contexts of Historical Urdu Prose

To read historical Urdu texts intelligently, you need a rough sense of when and why they were written. Here are simplified periods that are especially relevant for prose:

Historical texts may be contemporary (written at the time of the events) or retrospective (written later about earlier events). Both types reveal as much about their own time as about the period they describe.

---

Key Genres of Historical Urdu Prose

Chronicles and Court Histories

Chronicles and court histories record the deeds of rulers, battles, successions, and court ceremonies. Many were inspired by Persian models.

Typical features:

• Highly formal, honorific vocabulary
• Long chains of praise for rulers
• Focus on battles, conquests, and building projects
• Limited attention to common people except as masses, rebels, or subjects

Example of a stylized opening sentence:

Urdu (Roman):
Yeh baat roz‑e roshan ki tarah aayan hai ke Shah Alam Sani ke daur‑e hukmrani mein dilli ki shaan o shaukat kam hoti gayi.
Gloss:
It is as clear as the light of day that during the reign of Shah Alam II, the grandeur of Delhi continued to diminish.

Note the formal phrases like roz‑e roshan ki tarah aayan hai (as clear as the light of day) and dour‑e hukmrani (period of rule).

Biographies and Tazkirahs

A tazkirah is a biographical anthology, often of poets, saints, scholars, or nobles. These are crucial sources for literary and social history.

Common traits:

• Short, formulaic life sketches
• Mixture of anecdote and praise
• Evaluations of character and literary style

Example:

Urdu (Roman):
Mir Taqi Mir aslan Agra ke rehnay wale thay. Unhon ne apni zindagi ka aksar hissa dilli mein guzara, jahan un ke kalam ne urdu ghazal ko bulandiyon par pohanchaya.
Translation:
Mir Taqi Mir was originally a resident of Agra. He spent most of his life in Delhi, where his verse raised the Urdu ghazal to great heights.

Here, historical fact (places, life period) mixes with evaluative judgment (bulandiyon par pohanchaya).

Travelogues (Safar‑nāmah)

Travelogues provide vivid historical detail about cities, routes, customs, and politics. They often include:

• Descriptions of geography and architecture
• Encounters with officials and common people
• Personal reflections on politics and morality

Example:

Urdu (Roman):
Jab hum ne pehli martaba Calcutta mein qadam rakha, to angrezi imaraton ki bulandi aur nizam‑o‑intizam ne hamein heran kar diya.
Translation:
When we first set foot in Calcutta, the height of the English buildings and the order and organization astonished us.

Such sentences help historians trace colonial urban development and Indian reactions to it.

Reformist and Didactic Historical Prose

From the 19th century, many scholars and reformers used historical narrative to argue for social and religious change. These texts often:

• Reinterpret early Islamic or Indo‑Muslim history as models
• Contrast an idealized past with a corrupted present
• Use episodes from history as moral lessons

Example:

Urdu (Roman):
Jab tak Musalman ilm‑o hunar mein sabqat rakhte thay, duniya ki qiyadat un ke haath mein thi. Magar jab unhon ne ilm ko chhor kar aish‑o‑ishrat ikhtiyar ki, to zawaal ka silsila shuru ho gaya.
Translation:
As long as Muslims maintained precedence in knowledge and skills, the leadership of the world was in their hands. But when they abandoned learning and adopted luxury, the process of decline began.

Here, a historical claim becomes a moral argument for contemporary reform.

Political Narratives and Movement Histories

Late colonial and post‑colonial Urdu is filled with histories of movements, parties, and events such as the Khilafat movement or the Pakistan movement. These texts often:

• Construct heroes, martyrs, and villains
• Justify a particular political ideology
• Emphasize sacrifice, unity, or betrayal

Example:

Urdu (Roman):
Tehreek‑e Pakistan kisi fard‑e wahid ka kaarnama nahin thi, balkeh croreon Musalmanon ki musalsal koshishon, qurbaniyon aur duain ka natija thi.
Translation:
The Pakistan movement was not the achievement of a single individual, but rather the result of the continuous efforts, sacrifices, and prayers of millions of Muslims.

Such sentences reveal a collective narrative that shapes national memory.

Memoirs and Eyewitness Accounts

Personal memoirs and diaries contribute deeply human perspectives to historical events, especially Partition and wars.

Features:

• First‑person narration
• Vivid, concrete detail
• Emotional vocabulary, often mixed with reflection

Example:

Urdu (Roman):
Agast 1947 ke un dino mein har subah ek nai khabar hoti thi. Kabhi kisi gaon par hamla, kabhi kisi qaflay ka qatl‑e aam. Darr hamari zindagi ka laazim hissa ban gaya tha.
Translation:
In those days of August 1947, every morning brought new news. Sometimes an attack on a village, sometimes a massacre of a caravan. Fear had become an essential part of our lives.

Historical value lies not only in dates, but in how events were felt.

---

Stylistic Features of Historical Urdu Prose

Persianized vs. “Modern” Urdu

Many older texts are deeply Persianized in vocabulary and syntax. Compare:

Example of a highly Persianized sentence:

Urdu (Roman):
Jab se saltanat‑e Mughlia par zawaal ka saya mandlana shuru hua, us waqt se siyasat‑e mulk­dari mein aisi uljhan paida hui ke sulah‑o salamat ka raasta band hota nazar aaya.
Translation:
From the time that the shadow of decline began to hover over the Mughal empire, such entanglement arose in the politics of statecraft that the path of peace and security appeared to be blocked.

Notice metaphor (zawaal ka saya mandlana), abstract nouns (siyasat‑e mulk­dari), and long clause structure.

Formulaic Openings and Closings

Historical prose often starts and ends in patterned ways, especially in religious or court contexts.

Common openings:

• Bismillah‑ir‑Rahman‑ir‑Rahim (In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate)
• Hamd‑o sana us khaliq‑e haqiqi ke liye hai

Praise is for that true Creator.

• Baad az arz‑e adab arz hai ke…

After offering respect, it is submitted that...

Common closings:

• Allah taala ham sab ko raah‑e rast par chalne ki taufeeq de. Aameen.
• Yahi chand kalimat arz kar ke kalam ko yahan khatm karta hoon.
• Wa ma alayna illal balagh.

Such formulas anchor texts in religious and courtly etiquette, and indicate the social placement of the author.

Honorifics and Titles

Historical texts are full of titles and honorific phrases. These carry nuance about status and respect.

Recognizing these lets you distinguish actual content from decorative respect language.

Evaluation and Bias in Language

Historical Urdu prose is rarely neutral. Pay attention to evaluating adjectives and verbs.

Compare:

Ghadar‑e 1857 ke baaghi sipaahi
The rebellious soldiers of the Mutiny of 1857.

vs.

Jang‑e azadi 1857 ke bahadur mujahid
The brave fighters of the War of Independence of 1857.

The event is the same, but the labels ghadar / jang‑e azadi, baaghi / bahadur mujahid reveal opposing ideological stances.

---

Approaching Historical Urdu Texts as a Learner

Pre‑reading Strategies

Before diving into a historical text, prepare:

1. Identify the time and place of writing
• Is this Mughal, colonial, post‑Partition?
• Who is the likely audience, court, religious community, general public?
2. Scan for structural clues
• Look at headings, dates, chapter titles
• Note recurring proper names, years, and places
3. Predict vocabulary challenges
• If the text is older, expect Persian and Arabic origin words
• Make a quick list of repeated unfamiliar words as you scan

Example of scanning:

Urdu (Roman excerpt):
Saltanat‑e Baburi ke iftitaah se lekar Aurangzeb Alamgir ke inhidam tak, Hindustan ne aise uroojo zawaal dekhe jo tareekh‑e aalam mein kam nazar aate hain.

Key words: saltanat‑e Baburi, iftitaah, inhidam, uroojo zawaal, tareekh‑e aalam. Mark them for lookup.

During Reading: Segmenting and Glossing

Historical sentences are often long. To manage them:

1. Find the main verb and subject
2. Break at conjunctions like aur, magar, lekin, jab, ke, chunanche
3. Insert small glosses above difficult words in your notes

Example segmentation:

Sentence:
Jab angrez hukoomat ne dilli par qabza kiya, to shahanshah‑e Hind sirf naam ka badshah reh gaya, aur asal ikhtiyar firangi afsaron ke haath mein chala gaya.

Breakdown:

• Clause 1: Jab angrez hukoomat ne dilli par qabza kiya

When the English government seized Delhi

• Clause 2: to shahanshah‑e Hind sirf naam ka badshah reh gaya

then the emperor of India remained a king in name only

• Clause 3: aur asal ikhtiyar firangi afsaron ke haath mein chala gaya

and real authority passed into the hands of foreign officers

Interpreting Dates and Period Markers

Historical Urdu texts use various strategies to refer to time:

• Islamic calendar: hijri, qamri, sanah, rabi‑ul‑awwal, zulhijjah
• Gregorian calendar: 1847, 1857, 1947
• Reign names: dour‑e Akbari, dour‑e Alamgiri
• Event markers: ghadar‑e 1857, jang‑e azadi, tehreek‑e Pakistan

Example:

Sanah 1274 hijri mein, jo angrezi tareekh ke mutabiq 1858 ka saal banta hai, dilli mein angrez hukoomat ka naya nizam qayam kiya gaya.

Reading tip: Note both calendars and keep a rough mental mapping when reading longer works.

---

Authorial Perspective and Ideology

Religious Framing of History

Many historical texts interpret events as products of divine will, divine reward, or punishment.

Example:

Jab logon ne Allah ke ahkaam se mooh phair liya, to un par zulm‑o sitam ke darwaze khul gaye. Zaalim hukmaran musallat ho gaye aur mulk par aafat‑o bala ka silsila toot kar pada.

The language presents a specific theological interpretation of political decline.

As a reader:

• Distinguish between event description (for example, a specific battle) and religious interpretation of its cause.
• Recognize that both are central to the text, but only the first might be verifiable in modern historical research.

National and Communal Narratives

Historical Urdu prose in South Asia frequently frames history in terms of religious communities, especially Hindus and Muslims.

Contrastive example:

Muslim hukmaranon ne hamesha apne ghair‑Muslim rayaya ke huqooq ka khayal rakha aur un ke mazahib ki azadi ki hifazat ki.

Kuch hukmaranon ne apne mufadat ki khatir qaumi tafriq ko hawa di aur jung‑o jadal ke zariye apni kursi mustahkam ki.

Note the generalizations. In critical reading, you ask:

• Which rulers, which time, which sources?
• Is the author defending or criticizing a contemporary political position through past examples?

Language of Heroism and Victimhood

Historical narratives often distribute heroism and suffering in patterned ways.

Common heroic terms:

• bahadur, shaheed, mujāhid, ghazi, qaid‑e azam

Common victimhood terms:

• mazloom, be‑kas, be‑sahara, mazluum qaum, mazlum rayaya

Example:

Mazloom rayaya ne jab apne hukmaarano ki na‑insaafiyon se tang aa kar awaaz buland ki, to un ke darmiyan se bahadur rehnuma ubhar kar saamne aaye.

As a reader, notice who is called mazloom, who is bahadur, and what political message that supports.

---

Language Features Typical of Historical Narration

Temporal Connectors and Narrative Flow

Historical Urdu frequently uses a set of connectors to sequence events.

Example sequence:

Ibtida mein angrez sirf tajarat ke liye aaye the. Phir dheere dheere unhon ne fauj tainaat karni shuru ki. Is ke baad, unhon ne badshahon ko apni himayat par majboor kiya. Chunanche, dekhte dekhte unhon ne puri saltanat par qabza kar liya.

These connectors are a map of the narrative structure.

Lexical Fields: War, Rule, Reform

You will repeatedly meet certain semantic fields.

War and conflict vocabulary:

• jang, muqabla, muhasra, lashkar, fauj, sipahi, qila, fateh, shikast, qatl‑e aam, ghair‑mamuli nuqsan, ghadar

Rule and polity vocabulary:

• saltanat, hukmrani, raiyat / rayaya, darbar, mansabdar, jagir, inqilab, qaum, hukoomat, nizam, qanoon

Reform and decline:

• zawaal, inhidam, islah, tajdeed, taraqqi, tanazul, ehtaijaj, inqilabi tehreek

When reading, it helps to build mini‑glossaries grouped by topic, instead of learning each word in isolation.

---

Working with Editions and Orthography

Older Spelling Conventions

Historical texts may show spelling that differs from contemporary standard Urdu.

Common variations:

As an advanced learner, you must get used to mapping such variants to modern forms mentally.

Footnotes, Marginalia, and Commentaries

Many historical works survive in annotated editions:

• Editor’s footnotes: explain obscure terms, correct dates
• Commentaries: interpret the text from a modern perspective
• Glossaries at the end: list archaic or technical words

Using these is part of skilled reading. Try to:

• Distinguish clearly between original text and editor’s voice
• Notice where editors disagree with the original author about facts or interpretations

Example editorial note:

Editor’s note (Roman):
Yahan muallif ne 1274 hijri likha hai, magar asli sanad ke mutabiq durust tareekh 1275 hijri hai.

This alerts you to textual transmission issues, an important dimension of historical work.

---

Comparative Reading: Conflicting Narratives

One powerful method at C2 level is to compare different Urdu texts about the same event.

Example: 1857

Text A (colonial‑aligned perspective):

Ghadar‑e 1857 ek achanak aur be‑sochi samjhi baghawat thi, jis ne mulk ko afraat‑o‑tafri ke hawale kar diya.

Text B (nationalist perspective):

Jang‑e azadi 1857 hindustani qaum ka pehla barha warood tha, jis ne angrezi hukoomat ki bunyadon ko hila kar rakh diya.

Compare:

This reveals not only divergent political stances, but also how vocabulary shapes historical memory.

---

Sample Close Reading Exercise

Here is a short, synthesized historical paragraph. See how many features from this chapter you can identify.

Urdu (Roman):
Saltanat‑e Mughlia ke aakhri dino mein, jab angrez hukoomat ne apni fauj aur tijarat ke zariye dilli par apna asar‑o‑rasookh barha liya tha, shahanshah‑e Hind sirf naam ka badshah reh gaya tha. Ibtida mein to angrez, badshah ki izzat ka lihaz karte hue, un ka zahiri ehtiram barqarar rakhe hue the, magar dheere dheere asal ikhtiyar un ke haath se nikal kar firangi afsaron ke qabze mein chala gaya. Chunanche, 1857 ke ghadar ne iss lambe zawaal ko numaya kar diya, aur dilli ki purani shaan o shaukat ka aakhri safha bhi band ho gaya.

Translation:
In the last days of the Mughal empire, when the English government had increased its influence over Delhi through its army and trade, the emperor of India had become a king in name only. At first the English, taking into account the king's honor, maintained his outward respect, but gradually real authority slipped from his hands into the control of foreign officers. Thus, the Mutiny of 1857 made this long decline visible, and the last page of Delhi's old splendor was also closed.

Features to notice:

• Persianized compounds: saltanat‑e Mughlia, asar‑o‑rasookh, shaan o shaukat
• Formulaic temporal beginnings: aakhri dino mein, ibtida mein
• Evaluative metaphor: zawaal, aakhri safha band ho gaya
• Political vocabulary: fauj, tijarat, ikhtiyar, hukoomat
• Ideological hint: calling 1857 a ghadar instead of jang‑e azadi

Such close reading is central to mastery.

---

Vocabulary List for This Chapter

The following list gathers important historical and interpretive vocabulary introduced here. Meanings are approximate and context dependent.

Use this vocabulary list as a reference while reading historical Urdu texts. Try to recognize these items in context and note how their connotations can shift depending on the author’s viewpoint.