A living archive of South Asian poetry — from doha to ghazal, Mir to Mahadevi.
raah
path, road, way
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.
ye jo rawan hain chaar so itne dhuein ke aadmi
kis liye chob sabz ko aag se aashna karoon
quaid kare toh aap hai quaid sahe toh aap hai
mein kise rokta phiroon aur kise raha karoon
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
raat ruki hai aan kar zard safeed ghaas par
laakh sukhan hai darmiyan kis se kise juda karoon
shaakh hali toh dar gaya dhoop khuli toh mar gaya
kaash kabhi toh jeete ji subh ka saamna karoon
pata chala koi girdaab se guzarte hue
na band hote hue baab se guzarte hue
ki ye toh rakhta pareshaan hi mujhe shab bhar
mein jaag utha hoon tire khawaab se guzarte hue
mein apne dil ke andheeron ko yaad rakhta hoon
tire badan ki tab w taab se guzarte hue
hawa khauf khizan mein larazta rahta hoon
kisi bhi waadi shaadaab se guzarte hue
Classical · 1877–1938
Poet-philosopher whose Urdu and Persian verse fused spirituality with a vision of self-realization.
Read moreProgressive · 1911–1984
The leading progressive Urdu poet of the twentieth century, whose verse fused romance with revolution.
Read moreProgressive · 1931–2008
Modern Urdu ghazal master whose romantic and resistance poetry made him one of the most quoted poets of his age.
Read more