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Gulzar, born Sampooran Singh Kalra on August 18, 1934, in Dina village in the Jhelum district, stands as one of the most distinguished figures in Indian literature and cinema. He is regarded as one of the greatest Urdu poets of this era, with a multifaceted career spanning poetry, film lyrics, screenwriting, and direction.

The trauma of India's partition in 1947 profoundly shaped his worldview and creative sensibilities. Seeking to pursue his literary dreams, he moved to Bombay (now Mumbai), where he worked in a family business while writing poetry in his spare time. His involvement with the Progressive Writers' Association proved transformative, introducing him to literary luminaries and filmmakers who would change the course of his life.

Gulzar directed films such as ‘Aandhi’ and ‘Mausam’ during the 1970s, establishing himself as a filmmaker of rare sensitivity. His cinema was characterized by lyrical storytelling, psychological depth, and innovative use of flashbacks to explore human relationships. His television work, particularly the acclaimed serial ‘Mirza Ghalib’ in the 1980s, demonstrated his mastery as both writer and director, bringing the legendary poet's life to audiences with remarkable authenticity.

Beyond cinema, Gulzar has maintained a distinguished literary career. His writing style is noted for its directness, emotional honesty, and freedom from conventional constraints of meter and rhyme, creating a distinctive voice that eschews ornate rhetoric for simple, powerful expression.

Gulzar has won 5 Indian National Film Awards, 22 Filmfare Awards, one Academy Award, and one Grammy. His song ‘Jai Ho’ from Slumdog Millionaire won the Oscar for Best Original Song at the 81st Academy Awards. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2002, the Padma Bhushan in 2004, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award—India's highest honor in cinema. In 2024, he received the Jnanpith Award, India's most prestigious literary honor.

At 91, Gulzar remains an active creative force, demonstrating his commitment to social causes. Gulzar's artistic journey embodies the synthesis of widespread and serious art, proving that commercial success and literary integrity need not be mutually exclusive. His poetry continues to resonate with readers, his songs remain timeless, and his films stand as sensitive explorations of the human condition.

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Syed Muhammad Bashir, known by his pen name Bashir Badr, was born on February 15, 1935, in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. He emerged as one of the most prominent voices in contemporary Urdu poetry, particularly renowned for his ghazals. Badr completed his education at Lucknow University and later taught Urdu at Aligarh Muslim University for several decades before retiring. His literary career spans over six decades, during which he established himself as a master of the ghazal form, captivating audiences across India and Pakistan. He has published numerous poetry collections, including Aas, Saya, and Dushman. His work has earned him several prestigious awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors.

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Sahir Ludhianvi (1921-1980), born Abdul Hayee in Ludhiana, was one of the most influential Urdu poets and lyricists of the 20th century. Born into an affluent family, Sahir's childhood was marked by his parents' troubled marriage and eventual separation. These early experiences of emotional turmoil profoundly influenced his poetry, infusing it with themes of pain, disillusionment, and social critique. He studied at Government College, Ludhiana, but left without completing his degree, moving to Lahore, where he began his literary career.

Sahir emerged as a prominent voice in progressive Urdu poetry during the 1940s. His first collection, "Talkhiyaan"(1945), established him as a bold new voice. After the Partition in 1947, he moved to Pakistan but quickly returned to India, settling in Mumbai, where he became one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated lyricists.

His major works include poetry collections, such as "Talkhiyaan," as well as "Parchhaiyan" and "Ao Ke Koi Khwab Bunein." Sahir's influence extended beyond literature into popular culture, making profound social commentary accessible to millions. He remains one of Urdu's most quoted poets, remembered for wedding artistic excellence with unwavering social commitment.

My book Sahir: A Literary Portrait was published by Oxford University Press in 2019. The Hindi version was published the following year by Vani Publications. The extended Urdu edition, beautifully translated by Stuti Agrawal, was published last year with great acclaim.

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Kaifi Azmi, born Syed Athar Husain Rizvi in 1919 in Mizwaan village near Azamgarh (Uttar Pradesh), was one of the most influential Urdu poets of the 20th century. He showed literary promise from an early age, penning his first ghazal at the age of eleven. Deeply moved by social injustice, he became associated with the Progressive Writers’ Movement (Taraqqi Pasand Tahreek) in the 1940s—a collective of writers who sought to use literature as a vehicle for social reform, equality, and resistance against colonial and feudal oppression.

Kaifi’s political convictions led him to join the Communist Party of India, and he devoted his life to blending poetry with activism. He married Shaukat Kaifi, a noted stage and film actress, and their home in Bombay (now Mumbai) became a gathering place for artists, poets, and thinkers. His daughter, Shabana Azmi, is a celebrated actress who has carried forward his legacy of art with conscience.

Kaifi Azmi received numerous honors, including the Padma Shri and the Sahitya Akademi Award, but his truest legacy lies in his moral voice. His poetry collections include Jhankar, Aakhir-e-Shab, and Awara Sajde. He remained committed to secularism, communal harmony, and social justice throughout his life, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire poets and activists alike. Kaifi’s life demonstrated that poetry could be both aesthetically refined and socially transformative. In the landscape of Urdu literature, he stands as a bridge—connecting the romantic tradition of Ghalib and Faiz with the socially conscious modernism that continues to influence poets today.

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Ali Sardar Jafri (1913-2000) was one of the most prominent Urdu poets of the 20th century, born in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh. Coming from an aristocratic family, he was educated at Sultan-ul-Madaris in Lucknow and later studied at Aligarh Muslim University. He became deeply involved in the Progressive Writers' Movement during the 1930s and remained committed to leftist ideals throughout his life, joining the Communist Party of India. Jafri's poetry combined romantic lyricism with social consciousness, making him a unique voice in modern Urdu literature. He moved to Pakistan briefly after Partition but returned to India, settling in Mumbai, where he also worked in the film industry as a lyricist. His notable collections include Parvaan, Ek Khwaab Aur, and Mera Safar, which showcase both his romantic sensibility and political engagement.

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Majrooh Sultanpuri (1919-2000) was one of Urdu literature's most celebrated poets and a prominent lyricist in Hindi cinema. Born as Asrar ul Hassan Khan in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, he adopted the pen name ‘Majrooh’ (meaning ‘wounded’), which reflected the melancholic undertones often found in his work. He began his literary career as a progressive poet, deeply influenced by the Progressive Writers' Movement in Urdu literature. His early poetry dealt with themes of social justice, love, and human suffering, earning him recognition in literary circles. He was particularly known for his ghazals and nazms that captured the essence of human emotions with remarkable sensitivity. In the 1940s, Majrooh transitioned to writing lyrics for Bollywood films, where he achieved tremendous success. He collaborated with legendary music directors like Naushad, S.D. Burman and R.D. Burman created memorable songs. His film songs retained the literary quality of his poetry while appealing to mass audiences. Majrooh wrote lyrics for over 300 films during his career and received several awards, including the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist multiple times. Beyond cinema, he remained committed to Urdu poetry throughout his life, publishing several collections of his work. He passed away in 2000, leaving behind a rich legacy that bridged classical Urdu literature and popular culture.

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Parveen Shakir (1952-1994) was one of the most celebrated Urdu poets, known for her distinctive feminist voice and innovative approach to ghazal poetry. Born in Karachi, she earned a Master's degree in English Literature and later worked as a civil servant in the Pakistani government.

Shakir published her first poetry collection, "Khushbu" (Fragrance), in 1976, which immediately established her as a significant literary voice. Her subsequent collections included "Sad-barg" (1980), "Khud Kalami" (1990), and "Maah-e-Tamaam" (1994). Her poetry was groundbreaking for its frank exploration of women's emotions, desires, and experiences in a predominantly male literary tradition.

Her work earned numerous awards, including the Pride of Performance, Pakistan's highest literary honor, posthumously in 1999. Tragically, she died in a car accident in 1994 at the age of 42, cutting short a brilliant career. Today, she is remembered as a pioneering voice who transformed Urdu poetry by bringing authentic feminine expression to classical forms, inspiring generations of poets and readers across South Asia.

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Jan Nisar Akhtar (1914-1976) was a distinguished Urdu poet, lyricist, and writer who left an indelible mark on modern Urdu literature and Indian cinema. Born in Gwalior, he came from a literary family and developed his poetic sensibilities at an early age.

Akhtar was known for his progressive ideals and was associated with the Progressive Writers' Movement. His poetry reflected a social consciousness, humanism, and a profound concern for the struggles of ordinary people. He wrote extensively in various forms, including nazms (free verse poems) and ghazals, with themes ranging from love and romance to social justice and political awareness.

In addition to his literary work, Jan Nisar Akhtar made significant contributions to Indian cinema as a lyricist and screenwriter. He penned memorable songs for numerous Bollywood films, bringing poetic elegance to popular cinema. His film lyrics retained the literary quality of his poetry while appealing to a mass audience. His works include several poetry collections, and his writings continue to be celebrated for their lyrical beauty, social relevance, and artistic merit.

He passed away in 1976, leaving behind a rich corpus of work that continues to inspire readers and writers in the Urdu literary world.