Shefta Mustafa Khan

Biography

Nawab Mustafa Khan Shefta was a distinguished poet, critic, and patron of Urdu literature in the nineteenth century. Born in 1809 in Delhi into an aristocratic family, he was well-educated in Persian, Arabic, and Urdu, which prepared him for a life steeped in poetry and intellectual pursuits.

Shefta was an integral part of Delhi’s literary culture during a period when the city produced some of the greatest names in Urdu poetry. He was a close friend and contemporary of Mirza Ghalib and Hakim Momin Khan Momin, both of whom held him in high esteem. His later years also saw his influence on Altaf Hussain Hali, who considered Shefta a mentor.

As a poet, Shefta specialized in ghazals. His verse displayed a refined balance between simplicity and elegance. While he followed the classical tradition, he gave his ghazals a tone of sincerity and emotional restraint, which distinguished him from more rhetorical poets of his era. His diction was smooth and polished, reflecting the refinement of his aristocratic background and literary training.

Shefta was also known for his role as a critic and literary historian. He authored works that offered biographical sketches and critical observations on Urdu poets, contributing significantly to the documentation of Urdu literary history. His Gulshan-e-Beenaazir is an important prose work that provides insights into the lives of contemporary poets and the literary culture of Delhi.

Despite political upheavals, including the Revolt of 1857 that deeply affected Delhi, Shefta remained committed to literature and continued to provide patronage and encouragement to poets and scholars. His support for younger poets like Hali helped shape the next generation of Urdu literature, linking the classical tradition with modern reformist tendencies.

Shefta passed away in 1895 in Delhi, leaving behind a legacy as both a poet of grace and a patron who nurtured the literary giants of his age. His life and work symbolize the cultural vibrancy of nineteenth-century Delhi and its enduring impact on Urdu poetry.