10 Facts About Legendary Poet Mirza Ghalib on His Birth Anniversary
It is the birth anniversary of the timeless poet Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan popularly known as Mirza Ghalib. Over 15 decades after his death, the poet Ghalib still remains relevant and popular among his Urdu-speaking fans.
Ghalib has both young and old admirers. His poetry ranges from romance to the deeper meaning of life. Here are some facts about one of the most esteemed poets of the Urdu language.
1. Ghalib’s grandfather was a Seljuq Turk who had migrated to India and settled in present-day Agra. Turk from his father’s side, Ghalib was also Kashmiri as his mother Izzat-ut-Nisa Begum was from the region.
2. The poet was born on December 27, 1797, in Akbarabad (present-day Agra). When Ghalib was five years old, his father died in a battle. His uncle Mirza Nasrullah Baig took care of Ghalib but he too passed away four years later.
3. Mulla Abdussamad gave him lessons in Arabic, Persian and philosophy and Ghalib never received formal education.
