Wali Dakni

Biography

Wali Muhammad Wali, famously known as Wali Dakni, holds a special place in the history of Urdu literature as one of the earliest and most influential poets of the ghazal. Born in 1667 in Aurangabad in the Deccan region, he lived during a time when Persian dominated as the literary language of the Mughal court. Wali, however, pioneered the use of the emerging language “Rekhta,” which later evolved into modern Urdu, and brought it prestige by showing its poetic potential.

Wali traveled widely, especially to Delhi, where his poetry made a significant impact on the literary culture of North India. Before his arrival, Persian was considered the primary medium of refined poetry, but Wali’s verses in Urdu revealed its ability to express romance, beauty, and philosophy with equal grace. His ghazals captivated the audiences of Delhi and inspired a new wave of poets to adopt Urdu as their medium of expression.

He is often called the “Father of Rekhta” because his work gave legitimacy to Urdu poetry at a time when it was struggling to gain acceptance. His style combined the lyrical charm of Persian with the local idioms and expressions of Hindavi, making his poetry both elevated and relatable. Themes of love, beauty, longing, and devotion run strongly through his ghazals, and his language displayed elegance without losing simplicity.

Wali Dakni’s contribution is so central that many later greats of Urdu literature, including Mir Taqi Mir and Mirza Ghalib, are seen as part of the tradition he helped establish. His Diwan is considered a milestone, representing the flowering of Urdu ghazal in its early phase.

He passed away in 1707 in Gujarat. His death is believed to have occurred during a communal riot, but his legacy as the pioneer of Urdu ghazal remains immortal. Wali Dakni is remembered not only as a poet but as the one who gave Urdu its first true literary voice, setting the stage for centuries of poetic brilliance.