Rahat Indori

Biography

Rahat Indori was one of the most celebrated contemporary Urdu poets, admired for his fearless voice and electrifying stage presence. He was born in 1950 in Indore to Rafatullah Qureshi, a textile mill worker, and Maqbool Un Nisa Begum. Growing up in a modest household, Rahat’s journey from a mill worker’s son to one of the most popular poets of India became a story of perseverance and talent.

He completed his early education in Indore and later earned a Ph.D. in Urdu literature from Bhoj University. For a time, he worked as a professor of Urdu at DAVV University in Indore, where he was respected as a scholar and teacher. But it was poetry and public performance that gave him national recognition.

Rahat Indori’s poetry was sharp, satirical, and often political. His ghazals and nazms combined the richness of classical Urdu with direct, powerful language that ordinary people could relate to. He addressed themes of identity, social injustice, nationalism, and human dignity. His couplets like “Bulati hai magar jaane ka nahi” and “Sabhi ka khoon hai shaamil yahan ki mitti mein” became household lines, quoted widely in public discourse, social media, and protest movements.

His fame was not limited to the written word. On stage, Rahat Indori was a phenomenon. His booming voice, confident style, and dramatic delivery turned mushairas into unforgettable events. He performed across India and abroad, drawing massive crowds who came not just to hear poetry, but to experience the energy he brought to it.

Alongside poetry, he also wrote lyrics for Bollywood films, including Khuddar, Mission Kashmir, and Mehndi. His film songs carried the same lyrical strength as his ghazals, though he always remained first and foremost a poet of the people.

Rahat Indori passed away in August 2020 in Indore after suffering a cardiac arrest while being treated for COVID-19. His death was mourned widely, from literary circles to ordinary fans who saw in him a voice that spoke truth to power.

Today, Rahat Indori is remembered not only as a master poet but as a cultural icon who gave Urdu poetry a fearless, modern, and popular voice. His words continue to echo in gatherings, classrooms, and public movements, carrying forward his spirit of resistance and self-respect.