Influence of Tagore on Urdu literature

Rabindranath Tagore's creative output has left an ineffaceable impact on Urdu literature and his creativity still seems to be a perennial source of inspiration for writers, says a new book on Urdu literature and journalism.
"Urdu Literature and Journalism: Critical Perspectives" by bilingual critic Shafey Kidwai comprises well-focused and cogently-argued essays and works out a new perspective on Urdu literature. Some of the essays in the collection have been previously published while some were delivered as lectures in seminars and conferences.
Kidwai compiles the essays to break away from traditional view that Urdu literature is influenced by emotionalism. He weaves different strands of thoughts and new theoretical discourses reflected in various genres of literature to produce a kaleidoscopic portrait of contemporary Urdu literature in the book, published by Cambridge University Press India.

In one of the essays on Tagore's influence on Urdu literature, the writer says the concept of emancipation of human beings and an unflinching commitment to human concerns are the marked features of Tagore's poetry but Urdu poets perceived him as a poet who excels in creating a multitude of emotional effects.
"This erroneous but widely held view about Tagore prompted progressive poets to take a cue from Nazrul's revolutionary poetry," he says.
Kidwai says Premchand, up to a certain extent, was influenced by Tagore.
"Since Premchand alluded to the texts of Tagore at least 12 times in his letters and he took pride in emulating the style of Tagore; one can easily conclude that Premchand, up to a certain extent, was influenced by Tagore," he writes.