shikoyat

Shikoyat is a noun used in Urdu, Hindi and related South Asian languages to denote a complaint or grievance. It can refer to a general expression of dissatisfaction as well as a formal petition or written submission to a person, organization, or government body. The term appears in everyday speech and in bureaucratic contexts, where a shikoyat may be filed with authorities such as a police station, a service provider, or an ombudsman.

Etymology and related forms: Shikoyat derives from Persian and Arabic roots and is found in Urdu and Hindi as shikāyat or shikwa/shikayat. It is cognate with the Arabic shakwa, meaning a complaint or grievance. The verb form is shikayat karna, meaning to complain or to lodge a complaint.

Usage: Beyond its literal meaning, shikoyat often carries emotional weight and can appear in social and literary contexts as well as in formal discourse. In administrative practice, a shikoyat is typically a formal written complaint to authorities; in everyday speech it signifies a more informal expression of discontent.

In culture and language: The concept of shikoyat appears in Urdu poetry and prose as a recurring motif. It has been used as a title and thematic element in literary works, notably in Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s Shikwa and Jawab-e-Shikwa, which frame a dialogue of complaint and response.

See also: Complaint; Aduan.