Akhlaq Mohammed Khan

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Akhlaq Mohammed Khan
• Pen Name: Shahryar
• Born: 16 June 1936, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
• Died: 13 February 2012, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India
• Profession: Poet, Academic, Lyricist
• Languages Known: Urdu, Hindi
• Education: Aligarh Muslim University (M.A. in Urdu)
• Awards: Jnanpith Award (2008), Sahitya Akademi Award (1987)
• Known For: Modern Urdu ghazals, film lyrics (notably Umrao Jaan), contribution to academic and literary criticism

Biography

Akhlaq Mohammed Khan, better known by his pen name Shahryar, remains one of the most celebrated voices of modern Urdu poetry. Born in Bareilly in 1936, he grew up in a period marked by social and political transition in India. After moving to Aligarh for higher studies, he developed a deep association with Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), where he pursued his master’s degree in Urdu. His academic journey later extended into a teaching career at AMU, where he influenced generations of students as a professor and head of the Urdu department.

Shahryar’s poetry is distinguished by its modern sensibilities, yet it remains rooted in the traditions of the ghazal. He redefined the classical form by bringing contemporary themes into it, reflecting on alienation, urban life, and the search for identity. His ghazals and nazms carried a quiet intensity, marked by subtlety rather than overt dramatization. This understated elegance became his signature style, appealing to both literary circles and general readers.

Beyond the world of poetry, Shahryar gained national recognition as a lyricist in Indian cinema. His work for Muzaffar Ali’s films, particularly Umrao Jaan (1981) and Anjuman (1986), stands as a testament to his mastery of weaving classical Urdu poetry with cinematic storytelling. Songs like “Dil cheez kya hai” and “In aankhon ki masti ke” are remembered as timeless pieces that brought his poetry to a wider audience.

His contributions earned him some of India’s most prestigious honors, including the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1987 and the Jnanpith Award in 2008, making him one of the few Urdu poets to be recognized at such a high level. Despite his acclaim, Shahryar maintained a life of simplicity, choosing to remain an academic and poet rather than fully immersing himself in the world of cinema.

Until his passing in 2012, Shahryar embodied the spirit of a poet-scholar. His legacy lies in the way he preserved the beauty of traditional forms while giving them a fresh voice for the modern age, ensuring that Urdu poetry remained both relevant and resonant.