Firaq Gorakhpuri

Firaq Gorakhpuri Biography

Raghupati Sahay known by his pen name, Firaq Gorakhpuri was one of the most noted contemporary Urdu poets from India. He was a writer as well as a critic. He was the first writer in Urdu to receive Jnanpith award, highest honour for a writer in India. He won it for Gul-e-Naghma in the year 1969. In 1960 he won Sahitya Akademy award. He has held positions of Research Professor at the University Grants Commission and Producer Emeritus by All India Radio. He was well versed in all forms of Urdu poetry including ghazal, nazm, rubaai and qat'aa.

Firaq Gorakhpuri was born as Raghupati Sahay on 28 August 1896 in Gorakhpur, UP. He was selected for the Provincial Civil Service (P.C.S.) and the Indian Civil Service (I.C.S.). But as he was attracted towards Indian freedom struggle movement, he resigned his post. He participated in Gandhiji’s Non co-operative movement and got arrested as well. Later, he joined Allahabad University as a lecturer in English literature. It was during this time he started writing and his masterpiece work, for which he got highest literal honour of India, Jnanpith, Gul-e-Naghma was also written in this period.

A few of his noted works include - Gul-e-Naghma, Bazm-e-Zindagi Rang-e-Shayri , Gul-e-Ra'naa, Mashaal, Rooh-e-Kaayenaat, Roop, Shabistaan and Sargam. He has received many recognations including Padma Bhushan in 1968, Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu in 1960, Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1968, Jnanpith Award in 1969, Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 1970 and Ghalib Academi Award in 1981. He was one among the pioneers of Urdu literature during twentieth century. His name is always taken along with great Urdu writers like Muhammad Iqbal, Yagana Changezi, Jigar Moradabadi and Josh Malihabadi. He was a well versed poet of Urdu literature who experimented with all types of poetry. He died on March 3, 1982 in New Delhi, aged 85.

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Updated: November 22, 2013