Fani Badayuni

Biography

Fani Badayuni was one of the leading poets of the early twentieth century, admired for the haunting melancholy and emotional depth of his ghazals. Born Shaukat Ali Khan in Badaun in 1879, he was educated in law and initially pursued a professional career, but his heart remained devoted to poetry.

He chose the pen name Fani, which means mortal or perishable, a fitting reflection of the dominant tone of his work that explored impermanence, loss, and despair. His ghazals expressed existential sadness, personal tragedy, and reflections on the fleeting nature of human life. This gave his poetry a distinctive resonance, even in an era when sorrow was a common theme in Urdu verse.

Fani’s contemporaries included Asghar Gondvi, Jigar Moradabadi, and Hasrat Mohani. While poets like Jigar brought romance and lyricism to the ghazal, Fani’s work carried a darker and more philosophical intensity. His collections such as Baade-Saba, Rubaiyat-e-Fani, and Irtiqa secured him a respected place in Urdu literature. Critics admired his ability to combine technical mastery with an atmosphere of deep melancholy.

Though trained as a lawyer, he rarely practiced and instead devoted most of his time to literature. He eventually moved to Hyderabad, where he spent much of his later life under the patronage of the state. He became an important figure in Hyderabad’s literary circles, though his verses were more suited to thoughtful reflection than the applause of mushairas.

Fani Badayuni passed away in Hyderabad in 1961. He is remembered today as a poet who gave the ghazal some of its most sorrowful yet beautiful expressions. His legacy rests on his ability to capture human vulnerability and the inevitability of decline in language that remains powerful and moving.