Ghazal Lyricist Poet Akbar Allahabadi Profile

Born : 16 Nov 1846 , Allahabad
Died : 1921 , Allahabad
Pet Name : Akbar
Occupation : Urdu Poet

Akbar Allahabadi (b. 1846 - d.1921) was a famous Urdu poet, who was born as Syed Akbar Hussain at Allahabad on 16th November, 1846. Though initially educated only in madrasas (religious school), he later studied law and finally retired as a session judge in Allahabad High Court. He lived through tumultuous times, which is evident in his poetry, witessing the first war of independence in 1857, first world war and even the initial part of Gandhi's peaceful movement. He died in 1921 in Allahabad, the city of his birth.

Akbar's ustad was Waheed, who was the shagird of Aatish. Akbar is the pioneer in the field of humour and sarcasm; before him there were only serious poets who ocassionly had one or two ash'ar of that kind in their ghazals. For Akbar humour was not only a style but an instrument to clearly understand the social change. He conveys his message in his own original style without losing the humorous feel. Like Iqbal he was also a poet of the mind, they both used their poetry to awaken the sleeping masses, but there is a sharp contrast in their styles.

Source : wikipedia