Historical Forces at Play: Creative Voices of Mirza Ghalib and Ahmed Ali and Pre-PartitionSocio-political Conditions of Muslims

The present paper aims at reviewing pre-Independence subcontinentalhistory and its remains in the works of two literary figures,namely Mirza Ghalib and Ahmed Ali, who belonged to the 19th and20th centuries, respectively. The prolonged process of Britishcolonization, the sequel of defeats of the Muslim emperors and lords,the gradual loss of cultural, literary, and moral values—were thedevelopments that the artists and writers of the time had to witness.Like all others, they were haunted by the nostalgia of their gloriouspast. But unlike others, they avoided passivity and went ondocumenting the history in their works. A detailed review of the worksof Ghalib and Ahmed Ali shows how poets and authors made Muslimsto realize the loss of their identity and selfhood, and the brutaltreatment that they received from the colonizers. Though written inelegiac tone, their writings invoke a glorious past and induce somesense of pride among Muslims, while pointing out their follies as well.