Urdu Marsiya: A Historical Overview
The term ‘Marsiya’ (elegy) is derived from Arabic word ‘risa’ which means lamentation of the dead person, weeping and wailing over the deceased. It existed in Iran as a well defined literary form, in pre-Islamic days. ‘Sog-e-Siyahwashan’ (mourning of Siyahwash, father of Kai Cyrus), ‘Marg-i-Zarir’ (the death of Zarir, brother of Gushtasp) and some others are still considered as legacy of ancient Persian literature.
By Abbas Qamar
January 20, 2021
