Urdu and Turkish literature: a shared Persian tradition and translation
Urdu and Turkish literature share a foundation in the classical Persian tradition. The Ottoman and South Asian cultures may seem distant, yet readers in both could turn to the same books and find inspiration in one another's writing. These connections can be traced through poems, translations and studies of their reception. This article explores the links between the two traditions and considers why the translation of poetry has played such a substantial role.
Persian classics as a shared foundation
Ottoman literary circles studied Persian classics, including the Shahnameh and the works of Fuzuli. The Persian tradition also shaped the poetic imagination of the South Asian world in which Urdu literature developed. Although Urdu and Turkish literature emerged in different countries and languages, they drew on a similar store of motifs, forms and references. This common inheritance connects Turkish, Iranian and South Asian cultures. It also helps explain how readers in Istanbul and South Asia could encounter familiar associations in the same work, despite the distance between their literary worlds.
Iqbal in Turkey and the role of Mehmet Akif Ersoy
Iqbal became known in Turkey largely through Mehmet Akif Ersoy. Accounts presented at anniversary events describe an exchange of books: Akif sent Iqbal a copy of Safahat, and Iqbal sent Akif his Payam-e Mashriq. The two poets never met. Books sent by post and the written word sustained their contact.
Mehmet Akif Ersoy's Safahat appeared in 1911. In 1921 the Grand National Assembly adopted his poem as Turkey's anthem. His prominence as a poet helps explain the significance of his role in introducing Iqbal's work.
Translation of poetry: who translated Iqbal?
Translation extended this exchange beyond individual correspondence. Ali Nihat Tarlan translated Iqbal, while Celal Soydan of Istanbul University translated Iqbal's works from Urdu into Turkish. Their efforts gave Turkish readers access to his poetry in their own language, strengthening the connection between the two literary traditions. Iqbal's presence in Turkey thus owes much both to Akif and to translators. The reception of Urdu literature in Turkish translation has also attracted scholarly attention, making translation itself a subject of study.
An uneven flow of texts
Research suggests that modern Turkish and Urdu poetry developed at roughly the same time. Yet relatively little Turkish poetry was translated into Urdu. Most of the exchange flowed in one direction, leaving considerable scope for new translations and comparative research. For the relationship between Urdu and Turkish literature, this imbalance is significant: translating Turkish poetry into Urdu remains a task for the future.
Urdu and Turkish literature demonstrate how a shared Persian tradition can connect cultures even when their authors never meet. Explore the available translations and studies, and discover more articles about the literature of the East on Siyahi.