M
Mirza Ghalib
Classical · 1797–1869
The towering Urdu and Persian poet of the late Mughal era, celebrated for his ghazals on love, loss, and existence.
Read moreA living archive of South Asian poetry — from doha to ghazal, Mir to Mahadevi.
dil
heart
Classical · 1797–1869
The towering Urdu and Persian poet of the late Mughal era, celebrated for his ghazals on love, loss, and existence.
Read morehazaaron khwahishen aisi ke har khwahish pe dam nikle
bahut nikle mere armaan lekin phir bhi kam nikle
dil-e-nadaan tujhe hua kya hai
aakhir is dard ki dawa kya hai
New verses added to the archive this week.
hazaaron khwahishen aisi ke har khwahish pe dam nikle
bahut nikle mere armaan lekin phir bhi kam nikle
dil-e-nadaan tujhe hua kya hai
aakhir is dard ki dawa kya hai
Lives in poetry that shaped what we read today.
Classical · 1797–1869
The towering Urdu and Persian poet of the late Mughal era, celebrated for his ghazals on love, loss, and existence.
Read moreishq ne ghalib nikamma kar diya
warna hum bhi aadmi the kaam ke
ye na thi hamari qismat ke visaal-e-yaar hota
agar aur jeete rehte yahi intezaar hota
koi ummeed bar nahi aati
koi surat nazar nahi aati
ishq ne ghalib nikamma kar diya
warna hum bhi aadmi the kaam ke
ye na thi hamari qismat ke visaal-e-yaar hota
agar aur jeete rehte yahi intezaar hota
koi ummeed bar nahi aati
koi surat nazar nahi aati
hain aur bhi duniya mein sukhanwar bahut achche
kehte hain ke ghalib ka hai andaaz-e-bayaan aur
bazicha-e-atfaal hai duniya mere aage
hota hai shab-o-roz tamasha mere aage
dil hi to hai na sang-o-khisht dard se bhar na aaye kyun
royenge hum hazaar baar koi humein sataaye kyun
Classical · 1877–1938
Poet-philosopher whose Urdu and Persian verse fused spirituality with a vision of self-realization.
Read moreClassical · 1253–1325
The father of Urdu/Hindavi poetry — a thirteenth-century polymath who wove Persian and the language of Delhi into song.
Read moreModern · 1890–1960
A master of the romantic ghazal, whose mushaira recitations made him a legend in his lifetime.
Read more