Machis Lakhnavi

Machis Lakhnavi, born Mirza Mohammad Iqbal in 1918 in Lucknow, Hindi-speaking Uttar Pradesh, became known as a poet whose pen name “Machis” marked him out for his sharp wit and lyrical intensity. He lived his life in Lucknow, a city with a long tradition of Urdu literature, and he remained deeply connected to that tradition both in language and poetic sensibility until his death on 26 August 1970.

His poetry includes both couplets (shers) and longer Urdu nazms, but he is especially admired for his mazahiya (humorous) verses. In his humoresque pieces, he often used irony and clever observation to reflect society, human foibles, and the tensions of religious and moral conventions, while retaining lyrical beauty. His style was not bombastic but instead leaned on precise phrasing, balanced rhythm, and a capacity for both subtle critique and lyrical elegance.

Machis Lakhnavi’s themes often ranged from love, separation, and longing to social observation, satire, and sometimes critique of hypocrisy. In many of his shers, he captures fleeting human experiences—regret, irony, the contrast between appearance and reality. Despite his humorous side, there is always underlying seriousness: a questioning of values, an awareness of injustice, and a moral sensitivity.

He is still read today among lovers of Urdu poetry, particularly those who prefer the blend of traditional form with light satire and emotional depth. His collection Intikhab-e-Kalam-e-Machis Lakhnavi, published posthumously, gathers much of his admired verses and poems. Machis Lakhnavi remains a reminder that humor, satire, and lyricism can combine powerfully in poetry, and that even as Urdu evolved through the twentieth century, there were poets who maintained classical discipline while speaking to the everyday.