Jitendra Mohan Sinha

Jitendra Mohan Sinha “Rahbar” was born in 1911 in Bijnor. In his early years, he studied and then chose to leave a legal career path to take part in India’s freedom struggle. He was jailed in 1930 for his activism. After those early years, he became a dedicated teacher of English literature in Lucknow at National College. Alongside teaching, he wrote poetry in Urdu, even though he was fluent in several languages.

His poetry reflects his liberal convictions, his concern for social and political issues, and his spiritual side. Rahbar wrote in a style that is thoughtful and courageous—questions of truth, honesty, goodness, and the human relation to the divine often appear in his poems. He did not restrict himself to love or description; many of his poems speak about inner moral qualities, responsibility, kindness, and how even small good deeds endure.

Rahbar died in 1993. Over his lifetime, he left behind a body of work comprising ghazals, sher, nazm, short poetry, and prose. His poems are admired for their clarity, sincerity, and moral strength—qualities that have made him a respected figure among Urdu poets especially in Lucknow and among those who believe in socially aware poetry.