Maqbool Shah Kralawari (1820-'76)
was educated in Persian literature and is considered as the finest lyricist of
the 19th century Kashmir. In his Malanama, he lacerated the 'mullahs' for being
hand in glove with the ruthless landlords but masquerading as the defenders of
virtue and the redeemers of the poor. On the other hand in his Grisynama he
exposed the foibles and frivolities of the landless peasantry reduced to
sub-human condition.. However, his creative genius reached its apogee in Gulrez
(Scattered Flowers). It is one of the best mathnavis (descriptive poem) of the
19th century.
