Sepideh Kashani and Indian Rhetorical Techniques

Abstract

Sarvar-e A'zam Bakuchi, known by the pen name "Sepideh Kashani," is a prominent figure in Persian poetry. Her literary works—distinguished by rich imagination, creativity, and the innovative use of literary devices—demonstrate that she not only mastered the traditional techniques and rhetorical devices of the Persian language for conveying meaning and connecting with her audience but was also well-versed in the fundamental principles of Indian rhetoric (*Alankara*). Kashani’s works are primarily composed in classical and traditional forms (utilizing *radif*, rhyme, and prosodic meter), and she has incorporated elements of Indian rhetoric into these diverse poetic structures. This study aims to examine the extent and nature of the influence of specific Indian rhetorical techniques on her poetry. Employing a descriptive-analytical approach based on library research, the study reveals that Kashani paid special attention to Indian rhetorical expressions and strategies—particularly phonetic and allusive metaphors—in her work. We first categorized the Indian literary devices and then provided illustrative examples from Sepideh Kashani’s works for each. The findings indicate that, in addition to employing Persian literary devices, Sepideh Kashani paid significant attention to Indian literary devices, with examples of each observable in her collected poems (*Divan*).