Word Meaning
दाद-ख़्वाह
daad-khwaah
Meaning
A seeker of justice; a petitioner or complainant demanding redress.
Detailed Meaning
Literally denoting one who demands or seeks justice, in classical Urdu poetry it describes the aggrieved lover seeking fair treatment or redress against the cruelty of the beloved. In this couplet, the speaker views himself as a wronged petitioner whose court advocate is the self-sacrificing moth.
Etymology
Persian compound formed from 'dād' (justice/redress) and the present stem of 'khwāstan' (to wish, desire, or demand).
Usage
Commonly invoked in the ghazal to frame love as a legal or royal court where the lover stands as an aggrieved petitioner.
Examples
A helpless petitioner stood waiting at the threshold of the court.
Who will grant an audience to your silent seeker of justice?