majboori

Majboori is a noun in Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu) that denotes compulsion, coercion, or a lack of choice. The word is derived from majboor, meaning compelled, and has roots in Persian and Arabic through historical linguistic contact with the region. In Hindi-Urdu usage, majboori often refers to social, economic, or situational pressures that force a person to act in a certain way.

The term covers a range of circumstances, from family obligations and financial necessity to legal or moral constraints. It is commonly used to describe acting under pressure rather than by free will. In everyday speech, phrases such as “majboori ki wajah se” (because of compulsion) convey that actions are taken under constraint rather than voluntary consent.

In literature and popular culture, majboori is a recurring theme that highlights moral dilemmas, social constraints, and the tension between personal wishes and external demands. The concept appears in various forms across Hindi cinema, Urdu literature, and television, where characters navigate situations of constraint and choose how to respond to the pressures they face. Works centered on majboori often explore empathy, duty, and resilience in the face of limited options.

See also: Compulsion, Coercion, Necessity, Hindi-Urdu literature.