Editing Deccani language (section)

=== Growth ===
[[File:Phulban - a Persian love story (in Dakkhini Urdu).jpg|thumb|Illustrated page from ibn-e-Nishati's "Phulban" (Flower Garden), a Deccani Urdu rendition of an unknown Persian work. Written under the patronage of [[Abdullah Qutb Shah]], depicted here seated on a throne.]]
In the early 16th century, the Bahmani Sultanate splintered into the [[Deccan sultanates|Deccan Sultanates]]. These were also Persianate in culture, but were characterised by an affinity towards regional languages. They are largely responsible for the development of the Deccani literary tradition, which became concentrated at [[Golconda Sultanate|Golconda]] and [[Bijapur Sultanate|Bijapur]].{{Sfn|Shaheen|Shahid|2018|p=100}} Numerous Deccani poets were patronised in this time. According to Shaheen and Shahid, Golconda was the literary home of Asadullah Wajhi (author of ''Sab Ras''), ibn-e-Nishati (''Phulban''), and Ghwasi (''Tutinama'')''.'' Bijapur played host to Hashmi Bijapuri, San‘ati, and Mohammed Nusrati over the years.{{Sfn|Shaheen|Shahid|2018|p=124}}

The rulers themselves participated in these cultural developments. [[Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah]] of the [[Golconda Sultanate]] wrote poetry in Deccani, which was compiled into a ''[[Kulliyyat|kulliyyāt]].'' It is widely considered to be the earliest Urdu poetry of a secular nature.{{Sfn|Rahman|2011|p=27}} [[Ibrahim Adil Shah II]] of the [[Adil Shahi dynasty|Bijapur Sultanate]] produced ''Kitab-e-Navras'' (Book of the Nine [[Rasa (aesthetics)|Rasas]]), a work of musical poetry written entirely in Deccani. The ''[[mathnawi]]'' ''[[Pem Nem]]'' was also compiled during his reign.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Matthews|first=David J.|title=Eighty Years of Dakani Scholarship|url=https://minds.wisconsin.edu/handle/1793/11813|journal=The Annual of Urdu Studies|year=1993|volume=9|pages=92–93}}</ref>

Although the poets of this era were well-versed in Persian, they were characterised by a preference for indigenous cultures, and a drive to stay independent of esoteric language. As a result, the language they cultivated emphasised the [[Sanskrit]]ic roots of Deccani without overshadowing it, and borrowed from neighbouring languages (especially Marathi; Matthews states that Dravidian influence was much less{{Sfn|Matthews|1976|p=170}}). In this regard, Shaheen and Shahid note that literary Deccani has historically been very close to spoken Deccani, unlike the northern tradition that has always exhibited [[diglossia]].{{Sfn|Shaheen|Shahid|2018|p=116}} Poet San'ati is a particular example of such conscious efforts to retain simplicity:{{Sfn|Shaheen|Shahid|2018|pp=101–103}}
{{Verse translation|rakhiyā kam sanskrit ke is me bōl,
adīk bōlne te rakhiyā hũ amōl;

jise fārsī kā na kuch gyān he
sō dakhnī zabān us kō āsān he|I have restricted the use of Sanskrit words,
And made it free of unnecessary talk.

Those who have no knowledge of Persian;
For them Dakhnī is a readily understood language.}}

As the language of court and culture, Persian nevertheless served as the model for poetic forms, and a good amount of Persian and Arabic vocabulary was present in the works of these writers. Hence Deccani attempted to strike a balance between Indian and Persian influences,{{Sfn|Shaheen|Shahid|2018|pp=103–104}}{{Sfn|Matthews|1976|p=283}} though it did always retain mutual intelligibility with the northern Dehlavi. This contributed to the cultivation of a distinct Deccani identity, separate from the rulers from the north; many poets proudly extolled the Deccan region and its culture.{{Sfn|Shaheen|Shahid|2018|pp=106–108}}

Hence, Deccani experienced cultivation into a literary language under the Sultanates, alongside its usage as a common vernacular. It also continued to be used by saints and Sufis for preaching. However, the Sultanates did not use Deccani for official purposes, preferring the prestige language Persian as well as regional languages like Marathi, Kannada, and Telugu.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Eaton|first=Richard|title=A Social History of the Deccan, 1300–1761|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2005|isbn=9780521254847|series=The New Cambridge History of India|pages=142–144}}</ref>