Khumar Barabankvi

Khumar Barabankvi was the kind of poet who could make a hall fall silent with a single couplet. Born Mohammed Haidar Khan in Barabanki in 1919, he grew up in a family deeply connected to poetry. His father, Dr. Ghulam Haider, wrote marsiyas under the pen name Bahar, while his uncle, Qaraar Barabankvi, helped guide his early steps in verse. The name Khumar, meaning intoxication, was his chosen pen name, and it matched the mood of his poetry perfectly.

Before poetry took over his life, Khumar worked for some years in the police department. Yet his real calling was always the stage. From small literary gatherings, he rose to prominence in major mushairas, where audiences were captivated by his soft, melodious voice and heartfelt recitations. He often said that Jigar Moradabadi had shaped his style of delivery, and many came to believe that a mushaira was incomplete without the presence of both Jigar and Khumar.

The film industry soon recognized his gift. In the mid-1940s, after a mushaira in Bombay, he was invited to write for A. R. Kardar’s film Shahjehan, with Naushad composing and K. L. Saigal singing his lyrics. Songs like Chaah Barbad Karegi Hamein Maloom Na Tha carried the same lyrical beauty as his ghazals. Later, he wrote for films such as Baradari and Saaz Aur Awaaz, and contributed memorable poetry to K. Asif’s unfinished project Love and God.

As a literary figure, Khumar remained loyal to the classical ghazal, while keeping his language simple, musical, and accessible. His published collections include Hadees-e-Deegaraan, Aatish-e-Tar, Raqs-e-Mai, Shab-e-Tab, and Aahang-e-Khumar. These books established him as one of the most admired ghazal poets of the twentieth century.

In his personal life, Khumar faced struggles, including a long period of drinking, which he later left behind. His later poetry reflected a deeper maturity, tinged with tenderness and reflection. Despite these challenges, he remained a beloved presence at literary gatherings, remembered for his humility and warmth as much as for his artistry.

He passed away on February 19, 1999, and was laid to rest in his hometown of Barabanki. Even today, his couplets are recited in mushairas, remembered in films, and cherished in print. Khumar Barabankvi’s voice lives on in the music of his words, carrying forward the tradition of the ghazal in its most lyrical form.