1873 (Lucknow) – 1951 (Karachi) • The Chaste Voice
"A stalwart and linguistic purist of the Lucknow school of poetry, Arzoo Lakhnavi took on a massive and unique literary challenge. He wrote an entire diwan (collection of poetry) titled 'Surili Bansuri' using only pure, unadulterated Urdu and Hindi (Khari Boli), intentionally avoiding any heavy Arabic or Persian vocabulary that dominated classical poetry. This showcased his mastery over the indigenous roots of the language. Later in life, he transitioned to Bombay, where he wrote highly successful and acclaimed lyrics for early Indian cinema."