Poets/Writers From India
Total: 5941
Abroo Shah Mubarak
One of the founding fathers of Urdu poetry. Contemporary of Meer Taqi Meer
Akbar Allahabadi
The greatest Urdu poet of humour and satire who was a Sessions judge at Allahabad.
Ameer Khusrau
First Poet of Rekhta/Hindvi. Musician and Disciple of Sufi Saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia. Known for his "pahelis", which form part of Indian folklore. He is famous for inventing two most important musical instruments tabla & sitar. Wrote "Ze-hal-e-miskin…" one of the earliest prototypes of Urdu ghazal written in Persian & Hindvi.
Dagh Dehlvi
Last of classical poets who celebrated life and love. Famous for his playfulness of words (idioms/ phrases).
Firaq Gorakhpuri
One of the most influential Pre-modern poets who paved the way for the modern Urdu ghazal. Known for his perceptive critical comments. Recipient of Gyanpeeth award.
Gulzar
- Born : Dina Jhelum
- Domicile : Mumbai
Celebrated poet, novelist, song and scriptwriter. Acclaimed for directing tele-serial on Mirza Ghalib. Recipient of Sahitya Academy and Dada Sahab Phalke awards
Harivanshrai Bachchan
Insha Allah Khan Insha
- Born : Murshidabad
- Domicile : Delhi
- Died : Lucknow
One of the most firebrand poets of Lucknow. Contemporary of Meer Taqi Meer. His rivalry with Mushafi is well-recorded. Also wrote Rekhti poetry and 'Raani Ketki ki kahani" in prose
Intizar Hussain
Most prominent fiction writer, known for his stories woven around the experience of Partition and for his individual style of telling tales. The first Urdu writer to have been shortlisted for Man Booker prize.
Jaishankar Prasad
Jaun Eliya
One of the most prominent modern Urdu poets. Popular among masses for his unconventional ways
Khan Arzoo Sirajuddin Ali
Most prominent linguist and lexicologist, mentor of Mir and Mir Dard
Khwaja Meer Dard
Sufi poet, contemporary of Mir Taqi Mir, known for his deep knowledge of Indian music.
Krishn Chander
A contemporary of Manto, associated with the Progressive Writers Movement, known for his stories of romance and social realism.
Mahatma Gandhi
Maulwi Abdul Haq
Meer Anees
One of the most prominent classical poets at Lucknow, who excelled in Mersia poetry. Contemporary of Mirza Ghalib.
Meer Hasan
Considered to be the foremost poet of masnavi
Meer Taqi Meer
One of the greatest Urdu poets. Known as Khuda-e-Sukhan (God of Poetry)
Mirza Ghalib
Legendary Urdu poet occupying a place of pride in worldwide literature. One of the most quotable poets having couplets for almost all situations of life
Mohammad Husain Azad
The most prominent stylist of Urdu prose and author of "Aab-e-Hayaat". Himself a poet, he was a major force behind the movement for the new Nazm in Urdu.
Mohammad Rafi Sauda
One of the greatest 18th century poets. Contemporary of Mir Taqi Mir
Momin Khan Momin
Contemporary of Ghalib and Zauq. Also a physician, astrologer and chess player. Mirza Ghalib is said to have offered his complete Divan for his sher "Tum mere paas hote ho goya, Jab koi doosra nahin hota"
Mushafi Ghulam Hamdani
One of the most prolific 18th century poets, contemporary of Mir Taqi Mir.
Naji Shakir
- Domicile : Delhi
One of the earliest poets at Delhi who laid the foundations of Urdu poetry. He witnessed the destruction Delhi during Nadir Shah's invasion.
Nazeer Akbarabadi
One of the most prominent classical Urdu poets who wrote extensively on Indian culture & festivals. Contemporary of Mir Taqi Mir. Famous for his poems on Holi, Diwali and Lord Krishna
Qayem Chaandpuri
Prominent 18th century poet, contemporary of Mir Taqi Mir.
Quli Qutub Shah
First Urdu poet to have compiled and published a Divan. King of Qutub Shahi dynasty of South India. Founder of Hyderabad city
Rabindranath Tagore
Bengali polymath who was active as a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer, and painter during the age of Bengal Renaissance. The only Indian-origin author to be awarded the Nobel Prize in literature.
Saadat Hasan Manto
World-renowned Urdu fiction writers. Known for masterpieces like Thanda Gosht, Khol Do, Toba Tek Singh etc.
Sayyad Mohammad Meer Asar
Prominent contemporary of Mir Taqi Mir, younger brother of Mir Dard.
Shahzad Ahmad
One of the leading poets of new Urdu ghazal.
Shaikh Ibrahim Zauq
- Domicile : Delhi
Poet laureate of the Mughal Court and mentor of Bahadur Shah Zafar. His 'poetic' rivalry with Ghalib is well known.
Shamsher Bahadur Singh
Siraj Aurangabadi
- Born : Aurangabad
- Domicile : Aurangabad
- Died : Aurangabad
Sufi poet known for his widely sung ghazal 'Khabar-e-tahayyur-e-ishq'
Syed Hasan Askari
Taban Abdul Hai
Famous for his good looks apart from poetry. Died at a young age.
Wali Mohammad Wali
- Born : Aurangabad
- Domicile : Gujrat
- Died : Ahmedabad
Trend setter classical poet who helped establish Urdu ghazal in Delhi by inspiring poets to write in Urdu
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
- Born : Tamil Nadu
- Domicile : Delhi
Aashufta Changezi
- Domicile : Aligarh
Prominent post-modern poet who went missing in 1996
Abdul Halim Sharar
A prominent scholar, author, translator, and novelist of twentieth century. Had a keen eye on the socio-cultural life of Lucknow.
Abdul Qavi Desnavi
Abdul Rahman Ehsan Dehlvi
Abdurrahman Bijnori
Abul Lais Siddiqui
Adil Mansuri
One of the leading modernist poets who broke many conventions. Wrote poetry in Urdu and Gujarati. He was also a famous calligrapher and playwright
Afzal Ahmad Syed
One of the leading Pakistani poets known for his layered poetic expression.
Agha Hajju Sharaf
- Born : Lucknow
Prominent Lucknow poet who was very close to the royal family. Moved to Kolkota and stayed with Hamid Ali Kaukab, the Crown prince of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah in exile.
Ahmad Bin Mohammad Ansari Sherwani
- Born : Saudi Arabia
- Domicile : Kolkata
- Died : Kolkata