LAHORE: The 52nd death anniversary of the founder of modern Urdu ghazal Nasir Kazmi is being observed today (Saturday). He was born on Dec 8, 1925 as Syed Nasir Raza Kazmi. He began his education at Muslim High School Ambala and later sought a bachelor’s degree at Government College Lahore, unrest during the partition compelled him to abandon his studies. In August 1947, he migrated to Lahore.
Kazmi embarked on his poetic journey in 1940, inspired by the style of Akhtar Sherani, and became known for his melancholic verses. Associated with Radio Pakistan, he authored sketches on classical Urdu poets like Mir Taqi Mir.
His poetic collections include ‘Barg-e-Nay’, ‘Dewaan’, ‘Pahli Barish’, and ‘Khawab-e-Nishat’. Kazmi’s poetry, employing simple yet evocative language, breathed life into everyday elements such as ‘Chand’, ‘Raat’, and ‘Baarish’.
His immortal ghazals were sung by iconic artists like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Noor Jahan. After his demise on March 2, 1972, due to stomach cancer, four posthumous books were published. Kazmi was laid to rest in Lahore’s Mominpura graveyard.
Where Integrity is Everything
