inqilab

Inqilab is a noun meaning revolution, upheaval, or radical change, used in several languages of the Middle East and South Asia, including Arabic, Persian (enghelab/enqilab), and Urdu. It denotes a fundamental transformation of political, social, or economic order and can refer to a large-scale upheaval or a broader turning point in history or thought.

Etymology: The word originates from the Arabic verb inqāla/inqalaba, meaning to overturn or reverse, and the noun form inqilāb conveys the sense of overturning or reversal. It has been adopted into Persian and Urdu with similar meanings.

Usage and examples: Persian-language discourse commonly uses enghelab to refer to major revolutions, most notably the Iranian Revolution of 1979, often called Enghelab-e-Eslami. In Urdu and Hindi, enqilab is widely used to describe political revolutions, social movements, or decisive changes in government or policy. The term can also appear in slogans, party names, or historical descriptions. While closely associated with revolutionary change, in some contexts it may denote a coup or abrupt political overturn rather than a broad social transformation, depending on nuance and author.

See also: Revolution, Coup d'état, Insurrection.