Mirza Ghalib: A Creative Biography

A creative and interesting biography, this study, translated from the Russian, is based on the life and work of Mirza Ghalib who was arguably the greatest eastern poets of the nineteenth century.  A creative and interesting biography, this study is based on the life and work of Mirza Ghalib who was arguably the greatest eastern poets of the nineteenth century. Here two main motifs interweave – the poet’s destiny, and his creative work. Seemingly ruled by fate and predetermination, the circumstances of his life resemble the plot of a detective story. His poetry reveals itself as a wonderful testi9mony of harmony, spiritual power, inner freedom, and intellectual capacity. It is marked with a unique sense of humor which distinguishes his poetic compositions, endearing him to his admirers, and stinging his opponents. The author acknowledges Ghalib’s role as that of a forerunner of modern literature in the subcontinent, and believes that he represents classic world culture.