Word Meaning
उनवान
unwaan
Meaning
Title, heading, subject matter, or a defining characteristic or hallmark.
Detailed Meaning
Literally referring to the title, heading, or frontispiece of a book or text, 'unwaan' in poetic idiom often represents a person's defining purpose, essence, or identity. In this couplet, wandering endlessly through lanes is described as the speaker's 'unwaan'—the very theme, title, and hallmark that defines their existence. It elevates the condition of the restless lover into an overarching life principle.
Etymology
Arabic ('unwān, denoting title, heading, or inscription).
Usage
In the Urdu ghazal, poets frequently employ 'unwaan' metaphorically to describe love, wandering, or suffering as the central thesis of their lives.
Examples
The title of the story of grief
Wandering became the heading of my fate