Lal Ded as an Existentialist Poet: Parallels between Vakhs and the Existentialist Thought

Areen Shah

Abstract: At its core, this paper explores and analyses the poetry of the celebrated Kashmiri poetess and mystical figure - Lal Ded - by drawing parallels between her poetry and the Existentialist thought, thereby positioning her as an early existentialist voice in the literary tradition; particularly by highlighting the profound sense of individual autonomy and personal responsibility found in her Vakhs - themes that align closely with Existentialist philosophy. This paper also contends that her work, though rooted in the mysticism of Kashmiri Shaivism, anticipates the existentialist focus on individual freedom, absurdity, and authenticity - principles that were later articulated by philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus in the formalisation of Existentialism. Ultimately, this research aims to bring attention to the literary excellence of the poetry of Lal Ded, making her far more than just a folk figure and therefore establishing her as a key literary icon and one of the precursors of a key theory in the field of literature.

Keywords: Lal Ded, existentialism, poetry, Kashmiri Shaivism, Albert Camus, Absurdism, individual freedom, mysticism, Jean-Paul Sartre, 14th Century Kashmir, existentialist philosophy

How to Cite?: Areen Shah, "Lal Ded as an Existentialist Poet: Parallels between Vakhs and the Existentialist Thought", Volume 14 Issue 11, November 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1456-1461, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR251119120243, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR251119120243