Halqa-e Arbab-e Zauq

Halqa-e Arbab-e Zauq (Circle of the Men of Good Taste) is a Pakistani literary movement begun in Lahore, British Raj, India in 1936.^[1] Early members included Urdu Language poets Noon Meem Rashid and Meeraji, brought to the meeting by his friend, Qayyum Nazar, an active member of the group.^[1][2] The Halqa is the second modern literary movement in Urdu poetry in the 20th century, founded just a couple of years after the leftist Progressive Writers' Movement and is considered to be the most influential group on modern poetry in the Urdu Language.^[2]

Its first meeting was held under the name Bazm-e dāstāngo (Storytellers' gathering) and organized by writers looking for a non-political meeting, and the name was changed to Halqa-e Arbab-e Zauq soon after.^[2] Unlike the Progressives, the Halqa was not politically driven, but reflected a traditional Western mode of modernist literature with new styles of prose and new subject areas outside of classical Urdu poetry, with some experimenting with themes relating to the personal experience of subjects of British rule.^[1] Rashid, for example, while not politically engaged, was influenced by Western modernist poets T. S. Eliot and Ezra Pound in exploring new verse forms.^[1] Urdu poet Meeraji, who introduced free verse and is considered the founder of symbolism in Urdu poetry, was also a prominent member of Halqa-e Arbab-e Zauq in its early days. Under his guidance, the Halqa moved from poetry readings to become a group of active critiques and influences on members' poetry.^[2]

Although strongly influential on modernist Urdu poetry, the group included and welcomed members whose prose and poetry was more traditional, including writers of the ghazal. Progressives members included short story writer, Krishan Chander, playwright, Rajinder Singh Bedi, and avowed Marxist and leading Urdu poet, Faiz Ahmad Faiz.^[2]

Halqa continues to have regular weekly sessions in various cities of Pakistan, most notably in Lahore. It is credited to have produced many notable Urdu poets and writers.

References

1. Rafey Habib; M. A. R. Habib, eds. (2002). An Anthology of Modern Urdu Poetry = Jadīd Urdū shāʻirī kā intik̲h̲āb, Angrezī tarjame ke sāth. Habib, translated by M.A.R. New York: Modern Language Association of America. ISBN 978-0-87352-797-2.
2. Patel, Geeta (2001). Lyrical movements, historical hauntings : on gender, colonialism, and desire in Miraji's Urdu poetry. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-3329-8.