5 Most Famous Urdu Poets of all times
Mirza Ghalib
orn in 1797 in Agra of what was then British India, Ghalib was one of the last great poets of the Mughal Era. Ghalib, who started composing poetry at the age of 11, wasn’t just versed in his primary language of Urdu, but also knew Persian, Turkish and Arabic.
Zauq
Having been appointed poet laureate of the Mughal court in Delhi at the age of just 19, Zauq holds irreplaceable significance in the history of Urdu poetry. The son of a low-level soldier in the Mughal army, the poet grew up in extreme poverty.
Mir Taqi Mir
Often referred to as the 'God of Poetry' in the Urdu literary world, Meer Muhammad Taqi Meer is undoubtedly one of the most important poets to have ever written in Urdu. The Mughal-era poet was born in 1722 in Agra at a time when Urdu poetry was considered to have been at a formative stage, and his work is therefore integral to the development of the language itself. His poetry is known to have drawn from tragedies in his own life – including the death of his family members, particularly the early death of his father.
Faiz Ahmad Faiz
Having been nominated four times for the Nobel Prize for literature, Faiz Ahmed Faiz is one of the most known among Urdu poets today. Born into Punjab in British India in 1911, and later a citizen of Pakistan, Faiz is considered to be the country’s greatest poet by many today.
Daagh Dehlvi
Dagh born in 1831 in Mughal-era Delhi, Daagh Dehlvi, who was born under the name Nawab Mirza Khan, was considered the best romantic poet of his time. His style of poetry was simple and accessible in such a way that it was well received by elite poetry enthusiasts and the common man equally. Dehlvi had the fortune of studying poetry under Mohammad Ibrahim Zauq, while also having had the chance to receive advise from Mirza Ghalib.
Mirza Ghalib
orn in 1797 in Agra of what was then British India, Ghalib was one of the last great poets of the Mughal Era. Ghalib, who started composing poetry at the age of 11, wasn’t just versed in his primary language of Urdu, but also knew Persian, Turkish and Arabic.
Zauq
Having been appointed poet laureate of the Mughal court in Delhi at the age of just 19, Zauq holds irreplaceable significance in the history of Urdu poetry. The son of a low-level soldier in the Mughal army, the poet grew up in extreme poverty.
Mir Taqi Mir
Often referred to as the 'God of Poetry' in the Urdu literary world, Meer Muhammad Taqi Meer is undoubtedly one of the most important poets to have ever written in Urdu. The Mughal-era poet was born in 1722 in Agra at a time when Urdu poetry was considered to have been at a formative stage, and his work is therefore integral to the development of the language itself. His poetry is known to have drawn from tragedies in his own life – including the death of his family members, particularly the early death of his father.
Faiz Ahmad Faiz
Having been nominated four times for the Nobel Prize for literature, Faiz Ahmed Faiz is one of the most known among Urdu poets today. Born into Punjab in British India in 1911, and later a citizen of Pakistan, Faiz is considered to be the country’s greatest poet by many today.
Daagh Dehlvi
Dagh born in 1831 in Mughal-era Delhi, Daagh Dehlvi, who was born under the name Nawab Mirza Khan, was considered the best romantic poet of his time. His style of poetry was simple and accessible in such a way that it was well received by elite poetry enthusiasts and the common man equally. Dehlvi had the fortune of studying poetry under Mohammad Ibrahim Zauq, while also having had the chance to receive advise from Mirza Ghalib.
