Dakhini as a Literary Genre

December 01, 2012 | New Delhi

Through carefully selected prose and poetry, SAAR attempted to bring out the linguistic and artistic dimensions of Dakhini as a literary genre and a precursor to the development of modern Urdu. One of the most creative periods in the literary history of India was the rise of Dakhini as a vernacular in the Deccan in the 14th century. Its basis was the standard Khari boli into which was introduced Persian, Arabic, Braj, Awadhi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Telugu and Tamil. Consequently, in the period between the 14th-17th centuries prolific literature was produced from this potent combination of languages, stressing acoustic symmetry of verses and its subtle and rich variations. Through this programme SAAR examined, the massive influence Sufis played in the expansion of this language in the early period , the composite and inclusive nature of the courts as well as the contribution made by African slaves to this field. To recreate this vibrant period, the recitation and narrative were supported by a visual presentation of miniature paintings from the Deccan.