Firaq Gorakhpuri, Urdu poet and writer
Urdu poet and writer

Firaq Gorakhpuri

Born 28 August 1896 · Uttar Pradesh — Died 3 March 1982

Authoring the influential Urdu poetry collection 'Gul-e-Naghma' published in 1932.

Raghupati Sahay, also known by his pen name Firaq Gorakhpuri, was an Indian writer, critic, and, according to one commentator, one of the most noted contemporary Urdu poets from India. He established himself among peers including Muhammad Iqbal, Yagana Changezi, Jigar Moradabadi and Josh Malihabadi.

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A detail that
surprised us

“

Firaq Gorakhpuri once humorously claimed that only two-and-a-half men knew English in India: himself, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, and Jawaharlal Nehru being the half.

The Story

1
In 1916, while still a BA student at Allahabad University, Firaq Gorakhpuri recited his first ghazal, marking the emergence of a fresh voice in Urdu poetry from Gorakhpur.
2
🌟 In 1921, he defied British colonial rule by resigning from the Indian Civil Service to join Mahatma Gandhi's non-cooperation movement, resulting in an 18-month imprisonment.
3By 1930, he had completed his MA in English Literature from Agra University, uniquely blending his mastery of Urdu, Persian, Hindi, and English literary traditions.
4At Allahabad University, where he lectured in English literature, Firaq penned much of his celebrated work, including 'Gul-e-Naghma,' which later earned him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1960.

🏅 Awards & Honours

1968
Padma Bhushan
1969
Jnanpith Award

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

In 1914, a venerable Faqir reportedly predicted the exact date and time of Firaq Gorakhpuri's birth, a detail he and biographers often recalled.

🖼️

Through the Years

1 photograph from the archives
Firaq Gorakhpuri featured on an Indian postage stamp issued in 1997
Firaq Gorakhpuri featured on an Indian postage stamp issued in 1997
1997

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
Raghupati Sahay was born in Banwarpar village, Gorakhpur, into a well-to-do Kayastha family with literary roots.
1896
⚡
Career
Recited first ghazal as BA student
At Allahabad University, Firaq publicly recited his first ghazal, signaling his emergence as an Urdu poet.
1916
🌟
Other
Joined Gandhi's non-cooperation movement
Firaq resigned from the Indian Civil Service and was jailed for 18 months for participating in the freedom struggle.
1921
📚
Education
Completed MA in English Literature
Firaq earned his master's degree from Agra University, blending classical and modern literary studies.
1930
🏅
Award
Received Sahitya Akademi Award
Awarded for his Urdu poetry collection 'Gul-e-Naghma', marking literary excellence.
1960
🏅
Award
Jnanpith Award for Urdu literature
Firaq became the recipient of the Jnanpith Award, one of India's highest literary honors.
1969
🕊️
Death
Death in New Delhi
Firaq Gorakhpuri passed away at age 85 after a long illness, leaving behind a rich literary legacy.
1982
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 06
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

Firaq was selected for both the Provincial Civil Service and Indian Civil Service but gave up these prestigious posts to join Gandhi's non-cooperation movement, leading to his imprisonment for 18 months.

02 / 06
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

He wrote more than a dozen volumes of Urdu poetry, half a dozen prose works in Urdu, several volumes in Hindi on literary themes, and four volumes of English prose, demonstrating exceptional multilingual scholarship.

03 / 06
👤PERSONAL

Firaq's father, Munshi Gorakh Prasad, was not only a lawyer but also a poet who used the pen name 'Ibrat,' influencing Firaq's early education in Urdu, Persian, and Sanskrit at home.

No quote recorded for Firaq Gorakhpuri yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
रूमानी एहसास और सामाजिक सच का अद्भुत संगम Firaq Gorakhpuri | Writer & Urdu Poet
More from this archive
रूमानी एहसास और सामाजिक सच का अद्भुत संगम Firaq Gorakhpuri | Writer & Urdu Poet
01
रूमानी एहसास और सामाजिक सच का अद्भुत संगम Firaq Gorakhpuri | Writer & Urdu Poet
Rare interview of Firaq Gorakhpuri | Poet | Part 1 | Srijan
02
Rare interview of Firaq Gorakhpuri | Poet | Part 1 | Srijan
Firaq Gorakhpuri | Urdu Poet | Jewels of Indian Literature
03
Firaq Gorakhpuri | Urdu Poet | Jewels of Indian Literature
BIOGRAPHY OF FIRAQ GORAKHPURI || Tasneem TV ||
04
BIOGRAPHY OF FIRAQ GORAKHPURI || Tasneem TV ||
Sham Bhi Thi Dhuan Dhuan | Firaq Gorakhpuri Ki Shairi | Moid Rasheedi | Lecture
05
Sham Bhi Thi Dhuan Dhuan | Firaq Gorakhpuri Ki Shairi | Moid Rasheedi | Lecture

🌱 What changed because of them

Firaq Gorakhpuri's insistence on Urdu as a secular language helped preserve its cultural presence beyond communal lines in independent India. His academic role at Allahabad University influenced generations of students and poets, while his literary works, especially 'Gul-e-Naghma,' set new standards in Urdu poetry. His achievements earned him prestigious national honors, including the Jnanpith Award, elevating Urdu literature's stature in Indian literary circles.

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