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Mirza Ghalib: A Biographical Scenario, published in 2011, features the life of the great poet Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan. He was born in 1797, and used Ghalib as his pen name. Today, he is one of the most popular poets of the Urdu and Persian languages. The influence of his work goes beyond the boundaries of India and Pakistan.
Mirza Ghalib: A Biographical Scenario is divided into seventeen scenes, and is not quite a biography. Gulzar, the screenplay writer, has traced back the path which showcases how famous couplets of Ghalib came into existence. Filled with stories that define the life of this poet, this book is a wonderful read. It divulges into details about his marriage to Umrao Jaan when he was only a child, and how none of his children survived beyond infancy. He used to drink and gamble, and was always in deep debt. However, he just longed to be the poet laureate in Bahadur Shah Zafar’s court in Delhi. This book also speaks about Nawabjaan, a courtesan who was infatuated with Ghalib. She predicted that he would one day be recognized as the best poet of Delhi. As promised to her, Ghalib presented her with a shawl at her grave after he became successful.
Readers are introduced to situations which inspired Ghalib to pen down his poetry. The TV series, Mirza Ghalib, was aired in 1988 on Doordarshan. The lead role was played by Naseeruddin Shah, and the ghazals were sung by Jagjit Singh and Chitra Singh. This series made Ghalib’s works accessible to the general public and they became immensely successful. His poems speak of love, longing, hatred, beauty, and more.
Those who wish to know more about this extraordinary personality should read Mirza Ghalib: A Biographical Scenario.ISBN - 9788129117175
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