Modern · 1846–1921 · Bara, Allahabad – Allahabad
Syed Akbar Hussain, known as Akbar Allahabadi, was the foremost satirist of Urdu poetry. A judge by profession, he watched the collision of East and West with a sharp, affectionate irony, mocking blind imitation of the colonial order while pleading for self-respect and faith. His couplets remain proverbial.
hungaama hai kyun barpa thoRi si jo pee li hai
daaka to nahin daala chori to nahin ki hai
duniya mein hoon duniya ka talabgaar nahin hoon
baazaar se guzra hoon khareedaar nahin hoon
hum aah bhi karte hain to ho jaate hain badnaam
vo qatl bhi karte hain to charcha nahin hota
ishq naazuk-mizaaj hai behad
aql ka bojh uTha nahin sakta
rahega ishq-e-but mein faraq dunia se deeni ka
agar ye sajda hai kaabe ka vo sajda hai kuchh aur
rahta sukhan se naam qayaamat talak hai
ye zinda-jaaved hai vo murda-zabaan nahin
qaum ke gham mein dinner khaate hain hukkaam ke saath
ranj leader ko bahut hai magar aaraam ke saath
dil mein jo aag laga di vo bujhaai na gayi
aankh se jo bhi bahi vo to chhupaai na gayi