Le Gulshan-e ‘Ishq de Nusratī, « Le Jardin d'Amour » : une œuvre romanesque en ourdou dakanī du dix-septième siècle
Résumé
The Gulshan-e ‘Ishq (Garden of Love), a romance (mathnavī) written in 1658 AD by Nuṣratī (died 1674 AD), the court poet of the 17th century Bijapur Kingdom in the Deccan, is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of early Urdu (Dakanī) literature. This romance was dedicated to the poet’s patron, the young King ‘Alī ‘Ādil Shāh II (reign 1657-72 AD). It narrates the adventures of a young man, Manohar, on a quest to find Madhumālatī, a woman he saw in a dream. The dream lady—who, toward the end of the story, transforms into a bird—clearly symbolizes his soul. During his journeys through foreign lands, the young hero, Manhar, encounters extraordinary events and gains invaluable life experiences. The romance appears to have been conceived as a Bildungsroman, illustrating the growth and development of a young man, likely intended for the education of the poet’s young patron. The text includes an extensive list of known place names from across the world at that time. The landscapes through which Manhar travels align with the concept of the seven climates (haft iqlīm), a prevalent cosmographical theory in Islamicate culture. In fact, some passages bear resemblance to the so-called Wonder (‘ajā’ib) Literature. Although Nuṣratī’s primary aim in composing this romance was to entertain and encourage the young prince, his text sometimes offers ominous glimpses into the contemporary social realities of the Bijapur Kingdom. At the time, the kingdom was facing mounting military threats from neighbours, and the poet was likely aware of its impending downfall. Despite the romance’s happy end, the lovers’ laments throughout the story may serve as premonitions of the kingdom’s approaching catastrophe.