Multilayered Realism in the Ghazals of Bidel Dehlavi: From Social Reflection to Semantic Depth

Abstract

Realism, referred to as “vaqe‘garayi” and “esalat-e vaqe‘” in Persian, is based on the pursuit of truth and reality, asserting that there is a possibility of correspondence between knowledge and the known. It encompasses the concept of truth and falsehood and claims to depict the world as it is and as it occurs in everyday life. Bidel Dehlavi, a prominent poet of the Indian style, through his often intricate language and innovative imagery, reflects social realities, human emotions, and philosophical-mystical concepts in the depth of his poetry. This descriptive-analytical study examines various manifestations of realism in four main dimensions: social realism, emotional realism, philosophical-mystical realism, and psychological realism in Bidel Dehlavi’s ghazals. The results indicate that Bidel’s poetry, despite its abstract appearance, focuses on concepts such as class conflict, criticism of hypocrisy and oppression, and profound attention to key themes and fundamental pillars of human life such as love, sorrow, death, annihilation, eternity, and the complexities of the human psyche. While maintaining literary aesthetics, his poetry represents a rich repository of multilayered realistic images and themes that continue to inspire contemporary readers through critical-philosophical interpretations.