Mashafi

Ghulam Hamdani
Born 1751
Akbarpur Amroha district
Died 1844 (aged 93)
Lucknow
Pen name Mus’hafi
Occupation Urdu poet
Nationality Indian subcontinent
Period Mughal era
Genre Ghazal
Subject Love, philosophy

Mas’hafi (Urdu: مصحفی ‬‎), was the takhallus (nom de plume) of Ghulam Hamdani (Urdu: شیخ غُلام ہمدانی ‬‎), (1751–1844)[1] who is considered to be one of the masters of classical Urdu ghazal.

Life

He was born in Akbarpur in Amroha district in the year 1750. He studied in Delhi where he began his poetry but later on migrated to Lucknow in 1783 having gained the patronage of Mirza Sulaiman Shikoh. He died in Lucknow. Before his time Urdu was known as Hindu, Hindoi, Dakni or Rekhta, Mashafi was the first person to simply call this language Urdu.[2] He migrated to Lucknow during the reign of Asaf-ud-Daula; he was a prolific writer whose ghazals are full of pathos.[3]

There are ten collections of his poems extant today but it is believed that he used to allow others for a consideration to publish his poems under their own authorship.[4] His personal life lacked discipline; his poetry reflects a level of sensuality.[5] He excelled in lyrics but also composed odes and romances.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and poetics. Princeton University Press. p. 1499.
  2. ↑ P.V.Kate. Marathwada Under the Nizams. p. 136.
  3. ↑ Lucnow: the last phase of an oriental culture. Oxford University Press. p. 255.
  4. ↑ Mujib Ashraf. Muslim Attitudes towards British Rule…. University of Michigan. p. 203.
  5. ↑ Abdul Jamil Khan. Urdu/Hindi: An Artificial Divide. p. 189.
  6. ↑ Encyclopedia of Literature Vol.1. Philosophical Library. p. 570.
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