Today is the 227th birth anniversary of Mirza Ghalib, one of Urdu literature`s most iconic poets. Real name Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan, popularly known as Ghalib (meaning conqueror), his poetry remains popular not only in the Indian subcontinent but also among the Hindustani diaspora around the world. Many of his verses have been sung as ghazals by iconic singers and continue to be adapted even today.

Who was Mirza Ghalib?

Born in 1797, the poet, one of the most popular and influential ones in Urdu and Persian language, wrote at a time when the Mughal empire was entering its last quarter and the British were taking over in India. His ghazals have been interpreted and sung in many different ways by different people as his writing which is still extremely popular among the Hindustani diaspora. Ghalib continues to inspire even the youngsters not just in India but across the world.