Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq (1789-1854) was one of the most renowned names of Urdu poets. He wrote poetry with a pen name "Zauq". He is among the traditional masters of Urdu poetry whose couplets are frequently quoted in discussion and in inscription, even after more than 150 years to his death.
Zauq is known for his complete control on the language. Yet his poetry is easy and direct. For more or less half a century, he remained connected with the Qila-e-Mualla (Royal Fort). Bahadur Shah Zafar was his pupil in poetry. In his life, Zauq was well thought-out as the greatest poet of the era, the Khaqaani of Sub-continent.
Major portion of Zauq’s poetical output got lost because of revolt of 1857. Zauq was a contemporary of poets of the caliber of Ghalib and Momin in the golden age of Urdu poetry. But not even a single collection of his poetry could be published during his lifetime. He passed away in 1854. In a way, he was fortunate that he didn't see his beloved Delhi getting ravaged by the British after the move violently of 1857. Maulana Muhammad Hussain Azad brought together a thin volume of his poetry with the assistance of his pupils like Hafiz, Veeran, Anwar and Zaheer that contains twelve hundred couplets of Ghazals and fifteen Eulogies.
Very nice sad poetry.
ReplyDeletesad poetry