nazm

Nazm is a form of Urdu and Persian poetry that emphasizes thematic unity and natural expression, in contrast to the rigid, rhymed couplets of the ghazal. The word nazm comes from Persian and Arabic roots meaning arrangement or composition; in Urdu it functions as a general term for a poem or composition, though in practice it denotes a poetry piece with a unified subject.

Nazm is not bound to a fixed rhyme scheme or metre, and can be written in free verse or with varied rhythmic patterns. A nazm may be lyrical, narrative, descriptive or essayistic in tone, and it is usually crafted as a single complete piece, or as a sequence of stanzas on a single theme, rather than a collection of autonomous couplets.

Historically, nazm arose in the Persian literary tradition and evolved in Urdu during the 19th and 20th centuries, becoming a principal vehicle for modern Urdu poetry. It gained prominence as poets sought flexibility to address social, political, and philosophical topics. Prominent Urdu poets associated with nazm include Allama Iqbal and Faiz Ahmed Faiz, among others, who used the form to express national, reformist, and romantic themes. In the post-independence era, nazm expanded to incorporate free verse and experimental techniques.

The distinction from ghazal is central: a ghazal consists of autonomous couplets linked by rhyme and refrain, while a nazm adheres to a single overarching structure and subject. Nazm remains a flexible, widely used form in Urdu, Persian, and other literary traditions, continuing to evolve with contemporary poetics.