From Royal Courts to Poetic Hearts: The Eternal Romance of Yousuf Shah Chak and Habba Khatoon

Abstract

A timeless romance: Yousuf Shah Chak, last of the independent Kashmir rulers, and Habba Khatoon, poetess, presents a rich and historical saga on love, poetry, and revolt set against the context of 16th-century Kashmir that had been portrayed to be "paradise on earth". This paper explores the lives of these two iconic figures, their poetic exchanges, and the lasting impact of their union on Kashmiri literature and cultural identity. By weaving their original Kashmiri verses alongside English translations, this study clearly outlines the paper’s key arguments, methodology, and main findings, demonstrating how their poetic expressions of love, loss, and defiance transcend time and culture of their emotions and their enduring relevance. Their love and poetry, forged in the crucible of political turmoil and personal longing, demonstrates how their poetry serves as both personal expression and political resistance, portraying resilience in exile, deep emotional devotion, and the use of creative expression to preserve Kashmiri cultural identity.