The Philosophy of Life and Death in the Poetry of Masood Qamar: An Existential Perspective

مسعود قمر کی شاعری میں مرگ و حیات کا فلسفہ: وجودی تناظر میں

Abstract

This research study critically examines the philosophy of life and death in the poetry of Masood Qamar from an existential perspective. Qamar’s poetic discourse treats life and death not merely as biological phenomena but as profound philosophical and psychological experiences deeply rooted in human consciousness. His poetry reflects existential anxiety, loneliness, alienation, and the persistent search for meaning in a fragmented modern world. Death frequently appears as both an escape from oppressive existence and a metaphysical question that challenges human certainty, while life is portrayed as a continuous struggle marked by suffering, resistance, and self-awareness. Through symbolism, paradox, and concise poetic expression, Qamar presents death as transformation rather than annihilation and life as an ongoing confrontation with existential emptiness. Influenced by modern existential thought and mystical philosophy, his poetry bridges the spiritual and temporal dimensions of human existence. This study analyzes selected poems to explore how the interplay of life and death articulates a deeper philosophical vision of human suffering, consciousness, and transcendence. The research concludes that Masood Qamar’s poetry offers a significant existential interpretation of life and death within contemporary Urdu poetry, transcending personal anguish to reflect universal human concerns.