Mohsin Naqvi as a Modern Marsiya Writer: From Classical Tradition to Modern Sensibility

Abstract

This literary tradition of marsia Nigari was set by classical poets like Mir Anis and Mirza Dabeer and came out as a wholesome art form that interwove religious devotion, moral values, and human feelings to portray the tragedy of Karbala. These poets reconsidered the story and thus turned it into a historical lament into a unified aesthetic experience that appealed to different readers. The genre of Marsia has changed over time to suit the intellectual and cultural needs. One of the most outstanding representatives of this continuum, Mohsin Naqvi, brought a new sensibility to the genre, thus increasing its interpretive potential. His music does not simply use the Karbala story as the artifact of the past but as the representation of the larger human existential misery, modern fears, and the struggle against injustice. In spite of these inventions, the Marsia by Naqvi stands squarely on the classical traditions and maintains their structural and thematic integrity. Meanwhile, he expresses the agony, isolation, and rebellion that are inherent to the contemporary experience, thus closing the time gap between tradition and the contemporary issues. Therefore, Marsia by Mohsin Naqvi is a perfect example of the successful integration of tradition and innovation in the contemporary Urdu literature. His work is a pivotal nexus of the classical artistic tradition and the emerging narrative needs of a modern audience since he combined the traditional principles of art with the current intellectual horizons.