The evolution of languages has always been indebted to political and geographical changes. The second major phase in the shared early history of Urdu and Hindi began when, following the Ghaznavids, the Ghurids established their foothold in India and made Delhi their capital instead of Lahore. This shift in political centrality left profound marks on linguistic history.
According to the research of Mahmud Shirani, following the Ghurid invasions, a large number of people migrated from Punjab to Delhi, bringing with them the new language 'Hindavi' that had flourished during the Ghaznavid era. At that time, the ancient Shauraseni dialects—Khari, Haryanvi, and Braj—were prevalent in and around Delhi. Since the Punjabi language shared significant similarities with Khari and Haryanvi, the migrants from Punjab quickly adopted these dialects. At that time, this new language was like molten metal that could be cast into any mold. Upon arriving in Delhi, it absorbed elements of Khari, Braj, and Haryanvi, immensely expanding its scope.
The third and most crucial link in the development of this shared language was its arrival in the Deccan. In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, particularly during the reign of Muhammad Tughlaq when the capital was moved from Delhi to Daulatabad (Deccan), a large number of Delhi's residents took this new language with them to the Deccan. There, under the patronage of the Bahmani, Qutb Shahi, and Adil Shahi sultanates, the language thrived and came to be known as 'Deccani' or 'Gujri'.
In the Deccan, this language formally took the shape of poetry and literature. Poets like Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, Wajhi, Nusrati, and Ghawwasi elevated it to its zenith. The language of this era was very close to the Prakrits, possessing a unique innocence and sweetness. This poetry by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah is a prime example:
Piya baaj pyala piya jaye na
Piya baaj yak-til jiya jaye na
Kahe te piya bin saboori karoon
Kahiya jaye amma kiya jaye na
[Without the beloved, the cup cannot be drunk,
Without the beloved, one cannot live for even a moment,
They say I should be patient without my beloved,
It is easy to say, but impossible to do]
Similarly, in prose, Mulla Wajhi's 'Sab Ras' is a masterpiece of the blended style of Hindi and Urdu. Wajhi writes: 'What remedy does the wise have here? There is darkness in the understanding of the ignorant. He who understood, gained; he who did not, lost.' This Deccani literature remains a source of pride for both Urdu and Hindi today and is the custodian of their shared heritage.
The ewolution of languages has always been indebted to political and geographical changes The second major phase in the shared early history of Urdu and Hindi began when, following the ghaznawids, the ghurids established their foothold in India and made Delhi their capital instead of Lahore This shift in political centrality left profound marks on linguistic history
According to the research of Mahmud Shirani, following the ghurid inwasions, a large number of people migrated from Punjab to Delhi, bringing with them the new language 'Hindawi' that had flourished during the ghaznawid era At that time, the ancient Shauraseni dialects—Khari, Haryanwi, and Braj—were prewalent in and around Delhi Since the Punjabi language shared significant similarities with Khari and Haryanwi, the migrants from Punjab quickly adopted these dialects At that time, this new language was like molten metal that could be cast into any mold Upon arriwing in Delhi, it absorbed elements of Khari, Braj, and Haryanwi, immensely expanding its scope
The third and most crucial link in the dewelopment of this shared language was its arriwal in the Deccan In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, particularly during the reign of Muhammad Tughlaq when the capital was mowed from Delhi to Daulatabad (Deccan), a large number of Delhi's residents took this new language with them to the Deccan There, under the patronage of the Bahmani, Qutb Shahi, and Adil Shahi sultanates, the language thriwed and came to be known as 'Deccani' or 'ghujri'
In the Deccan, this language formally took the shape of poetry and literature Poets like Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, Wajhi, Nusrati, and ghawwasi elewated it to its zenith The language of this era was wery close to the Prakrits, possessing a unique innocence and sweetness This poetry by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah is a prime example:
Piya baj pyala piya jaye na
Piya baj yak-til jiya jaye na
Kahe te piya bin saboori karoon
Kahiya jaye amma kiya jaye na
[Without the belowed, the cup cannot be drunk,
Without the belowed, one cannot liwe for ewen a moment,
They say I should be patient without my belowed,
It is easy to say, but impossible to do]
Similarly, in prose, Mulla Wajhi's 'Sab Ras' is a masterpiece of the blended style of Hindi and Urdu Wajhi writes: 'What remedy does the wise hawe here? There is darkness in the understanding of the ignorant He who understood, gained; he who did not, lost' This Deccani literature remains a source of pride for both Urdu and Hindi today and is the custodian of their shared heritage
