Upma: The Gentle Art of Comparison
Launch library · evergreen read
उपमा (upma), simile, compares one thing to another using a connecting word like जैसा (jaisa), like or as, softer and more explicit than the direct metaphor of roopak discussed elsewhere in this series on poetic devices. A face described as beautiful jaise chand, like the moon.
Invites the reader to hold both images side by side, appreciating the comparison consciously rather than accepting a full identification between the two things. Learners can practise recognising upma by looking for jaisa and similar comparing words within a poem. Once spotted, these comparisons often reveal a great deal about the mood and values embedded in Hindi poetic tradition.
A useful exercise is collecting a small handful of upma comparisons encountered while reading, noting what is being compared and why that particular image might have been chosen over another. Building this kind of small, personal collection over time deepens appreciation for how deliberately Hindi poets select their comparisons.