Famous for his heart rending poetry, Mirza Ghalib was also the father of Urdu prose. He has written beautiful, melodious ghazals that are loved and heard even today, because of their intensity and emotion, which can be felt and empathised by anyone who understands the intricacies of the language.
His best works have been translated into several Indian as well as foreign languages, for the world to enjoy.
Ghalib was married to Nawab Ali Baksh Khan's daughter Umro Begum, at the age of 13. After a few years he shifted from Agra to Delhi, where he lived as a tenant. His wife gave birth to seven children, but unfortunately, not one survived. He adopted a nephew, who was also snatched by the hands of death at the prime age of his life. This broke Ghalib's heart, and he was moved to write an elegy to commemorate his life and death.
Despite being a Shia Muslim, Ghalib was very liberal in his views. He believed in humanity as a whole rather than different sects and was a very genuine, loving aristocratic and morally upright human being. He was admired by both Hindus and Muslims and was warm, witty and wonderful. He had a great sense of self - respect and was known to have refused a job because he was not properly greeted.
Mirza Ghalib is also famous for the beautiful letters that he wrote. He was simple, direct and precise as he creatively described the current social, economic and political situations of the time. His letters were as beautiful and popular as his poetry, and are treasured and repeated in literary circles, even today.
His famous works include a 10 volume collection of poems called 'Diwan - i- Ghalib', followed by his letters in ' Urdu - i - Hindi' and ' Urdu - i- Muallah'. His famous works of prose include 'Naam - i - Ghalib', 'Latief - i - Ghalib' and 'Daupshe Kawaiyam'.
He suffered from a drinking problem, financial difficulties as well as pains of old age, and finally died at the age of 72 years.
