Sajjad Baqar Rizvi

Biography

Sajjad Baqar Rizvi was one of those rare figures in Urdu literature who managed to balance the roles of a poet, critic, and teacher with equal grace. Born in Azamgarh in 1928, he grew up in a family environment that valued learning. After Partition, he moved to Pakistan in 1947, carrying with him not just the memory of his homeland but also a deep love for classical Urdu poetry.

He began his professional life as a lecturer in English at Islamia College. Later, he became part of the Oriental College in Lahore, where he taught Urdu. For students, he was more than a teacher. He was a mentor who believed teaching was as much a creative act as writing poetry. Many of his students still remember the warmth in his personality and the spark he carried into the classroom.

As a poet, Rizvi stayed close to the classical tradition. He admired masters like Ghalib and Yagana and did not drift towards the experimental trends of modernist poetry. His ghazals reflected refinement, a careful choice of words, and an unbroken link with tradition. Collections like Taisha-i-Lafz and Joo-i-Maani reveal his dedication to craft and his command over language.

His contribution as a critic was equally important. He wrote on classical Urdu poetry, humor, and satire, and also brought Western critical frameworks into his analysis. Works like Maghrib ke Tanqeedi Usool and Tahzib-o-Takhleeq reflect his ability to merge Eastern and Western thought. This made him respected not just as a poet but also as an intellectual who shaped literary discussions in Pakistan.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Rizvi gradually stepped away from active literary gatherings. He preferred the quiet of teaching over the debates at Pak Tea House or Halqa-i-Arbab-i-Zauq. Yet, even in this quieter life, his influence was strong. His students and readers carried forward his passion for classical poetry and critical thinking.

Sajjad Baqar Rizvi passed away in Lahore in 1992. He left behind not just books but generations of students who considered him a guiding light. Today, he is remembered as a poet who honored tradition, a critic who opened minds, and a teacher who inspired.