Today is the 224th birthday of Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan, famously known as ‘Ghalib.’ He was born in 1797 in India during the time of the Mughal Empire, just before the British came.
Ghalib was a versatile writer, creating works in both Urdu and Persian. While his Persian writings were more extensive, he is widely remembered for his Urdu ‘Shayaris’ or poetic couplets. Even today, poetry lovers from India and around the world celebrate and honor his contributions.
His birthplace was Kala Mahal in Agra, and he belonged to a family with Mughal roots. However, the family later moved to Samarkand in present-day Uzbekistan. In 1850, the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar bestowed upon him the title of ‘Dabir-Ul-Mulk,’ a form of nobility. Ghalib held various roles, including serving in the Royal Court, working as a tutor, and being appointed as a royal historian.
Ghalib’s impact on literature and poetry continues to be significant, and his verses resonate with people across generations. His ability to express profound emotions and thoughts in poetic form has left an enduring legacy in the world of Urdu and Persian literature.