Khumar Barabankvi

Khumār Barabankvi (1919–1999) (Urdu: خمار بارہ بنكوی ) was an Urdu poet and lyricist from Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, India. His real name was Mohammed Haidar Khan, The word comes from the Arabic root 'Khum' which means a jar of wine.

Khumar Barabankvi's real name was Mohammed Haidar Khan,but he wrote under the takhallus (pen name/ nom de plume) of Khumār, which means intoxication. The word comes from the Arabic root 'Khum' which means a jar of wine. He was born on 20th September, 1919 in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. In childhood he found poetic environment in his family. His father Dr. Ghulam Haider wrote salams and marsiyas under pen name ‘Bahar’. His uncle ‘Qaraar Barabnkvi’ was a well-known poet of Barabanki who guided Khumar in young age and did Islah (Corrections) to his poetry. His brother Kazim Haider ‘Nigar’ who died in early age was also a poet. Khumar was an intelligent student and passed his high school from Government College Barabanki with distinction in many subjects. He then moved to Lucknow for his Intermediate classes where a romantic turn in his life made him to quit education and start poetry. Khumar Barabankvi had a melodious voice and soon became popular in Mushairas. He also got acquainted with Jigar Muradabadi and remained in association with him for a long period. His ghazals and voice made him favorites in Mushairas and became a shayar of world fame. Jigar Muradabadi and Khumar Barabankvi were known to guarantee for the success of any mushaira with their poetry as well as their melodious voice and style of recitation. Khumar was an ardent supporter of classical ghazal like Jigar Moradabadi. Though he had to face criticism from supporters of progressive movement in Urdu shayari but he stood firmly in favor of classical ghazals. Khumar has written some famous songs for Hindi films like Shahjahan, Baradari, 'Saaz aur Awaaz', Love And God (1986) directed by K. Asif etc. He was indeed closely associated with famed composers like Naushad, a fact not as well-known to many. He wrote all the songs for the film 'Saaz aur Awaaz' produced by Naushad in 1966 and wrote the songs again for the film 'Love and God' in 1986 for which Naushad again composed music.

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