1723 (Agra) – 1810 (Lucknow) • Khuda-e-Sukhan
"Universally revered as 'Khuda-e-Sukhan' (The God of Poetry), Meer Taqi Meer's life was a tragic reflection of his era. His world was repeatedly shattered by the brutal sackings of Delhi by foreign invaders, which eventually forced him into a reluctant migration to the courts of Lucknow. His poetry is the ultimate, heart-wrenching expression of both intense personal heartbreak and profound political tragedy. Meer's genius lies in his deceptive simplicity; his verses are incredibly unadorned yet emotionally devastating, earning him the ultimate compliment from Mirza Ghalib himself: 'Reekhta ke tumhi ustaad nahi ho Ghalib, Kehte hain agle zamane mein koi Meer bhi tha.'"