Imam Bakhsh Sahbai: A prominent critic of the subcontinent

Abstract
One of the most prominent features of the Persian language and literature in the Indian subcontinent is the existence of literary criticism in that language, where many writers and critics have left various works in this field. These works have either remained independently, or at the same time, works with other topics have criticized other people's poems, and significant results can be obtained by examining them. One of these critics of the subcontinent, whose significant works remain, is Imam Bakhsh Sahbai. In his works, he has repeatedly addressed the issues of criticism and rhetoric. He, who lived in the 13th century, authored more than twenty treatises in various fields, including literary criticism, description of some Persian texts, rhetoric, vocabulary, etc., and was an influential figure in these fields. In addition, he has trained many students by teaching Persian language, all of whom have played a major role in the development of Persian language. In this article, the introduction of Imam Bakhsh Sahbai and a brief review of his life events have been discussed, and at the same time, by introducing his works, his different views, especially in the field of literary criticism, have been examined and analyzed.
 
1. Introduction
Persian language and literature in the subcontinent has a long history, and the existence of many Persian-speaking poets and writers shows that, especially in a period, the subcontinent is one of the important centers of the Persian language, and various researchers and professors from different angles have considered the position of language and literature. Farsi has been studied in the subcontinent. The existence of numerous works with the title of history of Persian literature in the subcontinent shows the importance and also the extent of this issue. In addition to the breadth and depth of the Persian language and literature in the subcontinent, what is significant is the emergence of literary criticism in the subcontinent, which has more depth and seriousness than other lands. The existence of numerous works in the field of literary criticism, such as the works of Sirajuddin Ali Khan Arzoo (especially Tanbiyeh al-Ghaflin, Dad Sokhn, Siraj Munir), Munir's work by Munir Lahori, Jawab Shafi by Sialkoti Mal Warasteh, as well as the existence of critical elements in many tazkires of that era. Such as Khazara Amera and Saro Azad by Azad Belgrami, Majmaal-ul-Nafais by Sirajuddin Ali Khan Arezoo, Safina Khoshgoo by Khoshgoo and... are proof of this claim. Among other serious and scientific critics of the sub-continent in the 13th century is Imam Bakhsh Sahbai, who has many works in Persian language and has also criticized some of these works in Matawi and presented significant critical views. Below we will discuss in detail about his works and their content.
1.1. Research Methodology
This article has used library and documentary sources with a descriptive-analytical approach. With this explanation, the author collected various information about Sahbai by referring to various sources, both printed and written, and further, by searching in libraries, he collected Sahbai's works and introduced and reviewed them.
2. Discussion
According to evidence, the date of birth of Sahbai has been guessed in 1217 A.H. at the end of the Mughal Empire period and during the time of Muhammad Akbar II. His lineage goes back to the second caliph on his father's side and to Abdul Qadir Gilani on his mother's side. His father, Mohammad Bakhsh, migrated from the city of Tahanisir and settled in the city of Shahjahanabad (Delhi) in an area known as Chilon/Chilan alley.
To make a living, he chose to earn money by teaching Persian language and literature to the children of nobles and nobles. Some of the books taught by Sahbai were: Chaharmagala, Tarikh Wassaf, Akhlaq Naseri, Ganjavi's Khamsa Nizami, Maulavi's Masnavi, Amir Khosrow Dehlavi's and Hafez Shirazi's Ghazalyats, etc. Sahbai trained many students who contributed significantly to the spread of the Persian language in the subcontinent. The president of the college was a person named Taylor, an English Christian, and more than teaching, he preached and promoted Christianity among Hindu students. This issue caused concern among Hindus in Delhi. On the other hand, the British had an insulting attitude towards the Muslim clerics of Delhi, which caused the Muslims and clerics of India to fight against the British on May 10, 1857. Sahbai also participated in the war. The Indians were defeated and Delhi was captured by British soldiers on September 20, 1857, and Sahbai, like other freedom fighters, was arrested by the British in a mosque near his home and killed along with his family members by the Jamna River.
2.1. Persian works
The vast majority of Sahbai's works, both poetry and prose, were published in three volumes in Kanpur in 1295-1296 AD under the title of Kaliat Sahbai with the efforts of his student, Manshi Din Dayal Bhopali. His works in order of publication in general are:
small gem with culture; Bayad Shogh message; treatise in Farsi syntax; Diwan of poems; A sufficient treatise on rhyme science;
the treasure of secrets; treatise on the verse jewel; Repository of secrets; A rare message; the results of thoughts; speech confusion; exaltation; Description of three emerging prose; Description of Minabazar; The description of the five sections; The description of Zaheera Tafarshi's fresh dew; Nemat Khan Ali's description of Hasan and Love, description of Nasira's Riddle [by Hamdani], description of Jami's Riddle and solution of the authorities of Abdul Wase Hansavi are among the other commentaries written by Sahbai and he has explained their lexical problems and grammatical and rhetorical points. A brief description of Jawaharlal Haruf. Controversies are another word of his message. Faisal's words; The most famous book is Sahbai, which was written in 1267 AH in response to the punishment of Sirajuddin Ali Khan Arzoo. Sahbai wrote Qol Faisal in defense of Hazin Lahiji. Although Sahbai has clearly emphasized in writing this review that he has a special interest in defending Hazin and even justifying some of his shortcomings, however, he has tried to be fair in his answer to Khan Arzo and clarified that wherever the critic was right. Masnavi Damgh Al-Batil;
2.2. Urdu works
Apart from Persian works, Sahbai also has several works in Urdu language, which include: translation of Shams Faqir Dehlavi's Hadaiq al-Balaghat into Urdu and selection of poems by famous Urdu poets, simple grammar and Urdu syntax. Also, the books of Golestan Sokhon Saber Dehlavi and Al-Sanadid works of Seyyed Ahmad Khan are also attributed to Sahbai.
3. Conclusion
Imam Bakhsh Sahbai is one of the most prominent critics and commentators of Persian language and literature in the subcontinent. By writing about twenty Persian treatises on the description of literary texts as well as critical treatises, he made a significant impact on the flow of literary criticism in the history of Persian language and literature in the subcontinent. In addition, Sahbai was very effective in spreading the Persian language and literature in the subcontinent by training a large number of students.
Most of his views in the field of criticism are related to linguistic and lexical issues, and in this respect, they are comparable to the views of Russian formalists, which can be analyzed from this point of view.
He wrote the treatise Qol Faisal, which is one of the most important treatises in the field of literary criticism in the history of Persian language and literature.
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