Seven lesser-known Urdu poets worth reading are Munir Niazi, Dilawar Figar, Nushoor Wahidi, Anwar Masood, Jan Nisar Akhtar, Waheed Akhtar and Ada Jafri. They wrote film songs, political satire, romantic ghazals, Karbala elegies and early women’s poetry, and they show a side of Urdu poetry beyond Ghalib, Iqbal, Mir and Faiz.
Most readers meet Urdu poetry through the famous four: Mirza Ghalib, Allama Iqbal, Mir Taqi Mir and Faiz Ahmad Faiz. They deserve their place. But Urdu poetry is much wider, with humorists, film lyricists, religious poets and women writers who changed the form. These seven poets are a good place to start.
Quick facts: seven Urdu poets at a glance
| Poet | Years | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Munir Niazi | 1923 to 2006 | Urdu and Punjabi poetry, film songs |
| Dilawar Figar | 1929 to 1998 | Humour and satire |
| Nushoor Wahidi | c. 1912 to c. 1983 | Romantic poetry |
| Anwar Masood | Born 1935 | Comic and Punjabi poetry |
| Jan Nisar Akhtar | 1914 to 1976 | Ghazals, nazms, film lyrics |
| Waheed Akhtar | 1934 to 1996 | Marsiya, criticism |
| Ada Jafri | 1924 to 2015 | “First Lady of Urdu Poetry” |
7 lesser-known Urdu poets you ought to read
1. Munir Niazi (1923 to 2006)
Born in Hoshiarpur district in undivided Punjab, Munir Niazi wrote in Urdu and Punjabi and also worked for newspapers, magazines and radio. In 1949 he started a weekly, Seven Colours, from Sahiwal. In the 1960s his poems turned into film songs, among them “Uss Bewafa Ka Shehar Hai Aur Hum Hain Dosto” from Shaheed (1962) and “Jis Ne Mere Dil Ko Dard Diya” from Susral (1962).
His Urdu collections include Taiz Hawa Aur Tanha Phool, Jungle Mein Dhanak and Mah-e-Munir. He received the Pride of Performance in 1992 and the Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2005, and died in Lahore in December 2006.
2. Dilawar Figar (1929 to 1998)
Born Dilawar Hussain in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, Figar was called “Shehansha-e-Zarafat” (king of humour) and “Akbar-e-Sani”, a nod to the satirist Akbar Allahabadi. He moved to Pakistan in 1968 and settled in Karachi, where he taught Urdu literature at Abdullah Haroon College, then headed by Faiz Ahmad Faiz.
His satire targets social and administrative failings, often with English words mixed in for comic effect. His best-known poem, “Mein Apna Vote Kis Ko Doon?”, was hugely popular during the 1970 elections. Collections include Haadisay and Shamat-e-Aamaal.
3. Nushoor Wahidi (c. 1912 to c. 1983)
Nushoor Wahidi, born Hafeez-ul-Rehman in Sheikhpur village in Ballia district, began writing poetry very young and was known locally by his early teens. He is often described as one of the last romantic poets of Urdu. Besides several poetry collections, he wrote a volume on philosophy, Sabah-e-Hind.
Unlike many contemporaries, he stayed away from the growing film industry. That choice may be one reason his name is less known today than those of poets who wrote for cinema.
4. Anwar Masood (born 1935)
Born in Gujrat, Punjab, Anwar Masood writes in Punjabi, Urdu and Persian. He is best known for comic poetry in everyday language, but his humour often hides deep sadness about social injustice, discrimination and hardship. His well-known poems include “Aj Kee Pakaeay”, “Banyan”, “Juma Bazaar” and “Ambri”.
He taught for many years before retiring in 1996. He received the Pride of Performance in 1999 and the Hilal-i-Imtiaz in 2024, and is the only poet on this list who is still living.
5. Jan Nisar Akhtar (1914 to 1976)
Born in Gwalior, Jan Nisar Akhtar was a poet of ghazals and nazms and a member of the Progressive Writers’ Movement. He also wrote 151 film songs and worked with composers including C. Ramchandra, O.P. Nayyar, Khayyam and Madan Mohan. His songs include “Aankhon Hi Aankhon Mein” from CID (1956), “Aap Yun Faaslon Se” from Shankar Hussain (1977) and “Ae Dil-e-Naadaan” from Razia Sultan (1983), his last song.
His collections include Nazr-e-Butaan, Salaasil, Pichali Pehar, Ghar Angan and Khaak-e-Dil, which won the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu in 1976. Majaz was his brother-in-law, and his son is lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar.
6. Waheed Akhtar (1934 to 1996)
Born in Aurangabad, Syed Waheed Akhtar was a poet, critic, orator, scholar and philosopher. He gave new life to the marsiya, the elegy form, with Karbala Ta Karbala, a collection on the martyrs of Karbala. His other collections, Paththaron Ka Mughanni, Shab Ka Razmiyah and Zanjeer Ka Naghma, include ghazals and nazms. He also wrote Early Imamiyah Shia Thinkers.
7. Ada Jafri (1924 to 2015)
Born Aziz Jahan in Badayun, Ada Jafri wrote first as Ada Badayuni and later as Ada Jafarey. She was recognised as “The First Lady of Urdu Poetry” as early as 1950, the year her first collection, Main Saaz Dhoondti Rahi, was published. Her work addresses discrimination against women and how society treats them, in a voice that stays restrained and personal.
Her other books include Shahr-i Dard (1967) and her autobiography Jo Rahi So Bekhabri Rahi. She won the Adamjee Literary Award in 1967 and the Pride of Performance in 2003 and died in Karachi in March 2015.
Where to start reading these Urdu poets
If you like humour, begin with Dilawar Figar and Anwar Masood, whose recitations are easy to find online. If you know Hindi film music, Jan Nisar Akhtar is the easiest entry point. For something deeper, try Ada Jafri’s ghazals or Waheed Akhtar’s marsiyas. For more on poets and lyricists, see our Bollywood section, celebs and listicles.
Frequently asked questions
Who is called the First Lady of Urdu Poetry?
Ada Jafri (1924 to 2015) is known as the First Lady of Urdu Poetry, a title she was given as early as 1950.
Is Jan Nisar Akhtar Javed Akhtar’s father?
Yes. Jan Nisar Akhtar was Javed Akhtar’s father. He won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1976 for Khaak-e-Dil.
Which Urdu poet is known for humour and satire?
Dilawar Figar, called “Shehansha-e-Zarafat”, and Anwar Masood are two of the best-known Urdu humour poets.
Which film songs did Munir Niazi write?
Munir Niazi wrote “Uss Bewafa Ka Shehar Hai” for Shaheed (1962) and “Jis Ne Mere Dil Ko Dard Diya” for Susral (1962), among others.
Sources: Wikipedia: Munir Niazi, Wikipedia: Jan Nisar Akhtar, Wikipedia: Ada Jafri, Wikipedia: Dilawar Figar.
