Firaq Gorakhpuri, born Raghupati Sahay, was one of the greatest Urdu ghazal poets of the 20th century. He merged the classical Urdu poetic tradition with a modern sensibility rooted in Indian culture. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Jnanpith Award — one of the highest literary honours in India.
Born: Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India · Era: 1896–1982 · Specialty: Ghazal, Romantic Poetry
Ghazal is the most refined and enduring form in Urdu-Hindi poetry — a series of independent couplets bound by rhyme and refrain. This collection of works by Mirza Ghalib, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Mir Taqi Mir, and Bashir Badr suits readers who want to understand the classical tradition, recite verses aloud, or savor a single sher at a time.