लड़कपन

Meaning

Childhood, boyhood, or youthful innocence and immaturity.

Detailed Meaning

In classical Urdu poetry, 'laṛkapan' denotes boyhood, early youth, or an age of naive unconcern. In Ghalib's couplet, it signifies the reckless innocence of youth when the speaker thoughtlessly aimed a stone at the mad lover Majnun. It highlights the sharp contrast between unthinking early years and the painful self-awareness that comes with adult suffering and love.

Etymology

Derived from Hindustani 'laṛkā' (boy) combined with the abstract noun suffix '-pan'.

Usage

Frequently employed in the ghazal to denote past recklessness, naive innocence, or the beloved's tender and unselfconscious youth.

Examples

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Related Words