CRITICISM OF RESPONSE POEMS IN THE TREATISE “DODI SUKHAN” (“PERFECTION OF THE WORD”)” BY SIROJIDDIN ALIKHAN ORZU

In the article Treatise “Dodi Sukhan” (“Perfection of the Word”) by Sirojiddin Alikhon Orzu refers to the Persian-language literature of India and is considered one of the most important works in the field of literary criticism in the Indian subcontinent. A special place in the treatise is occupied by the analysis and consideration of reciprocal qasidas, or the so-called qasida-answers of the author’s contemporary poets: Munir Lokhuri, Mullo Shaido and Muhammadkhon Qudsi, written in response to each other’s poems. In the treatise, Orzu also sets out his own literary views, defines the terms “shershinosi” (“knowledge/cognition of poetry”) and, accordingly, “shershinos” (“connoisseur of poetry”) and “sherfakhmi” (“understanding of poetry”). Four types of understanding and perception of verse are analyzed: 1. Perception of verse in the taste of the common people. 2. Perception of verse in the taste of grammarians. 3. Perception of verse in the taste of rhetoricians. 4. Perception of verse in the taste of poets. Alikhon Orzu, in the course of analyzing qasid answers, sets out critical remarks related to poetic style, in particular to the manner of using words, and especially to word formation.