Legendary Urdu poet Bashir Badr, a Padma Shri awardee who penned immortal couplets like "Ujale apni yaadon ke hamare saath rehne do," passed away in Bhopal on Thursday following a prolonged illness, family sources confirmed. He was 91.
Final Moments and Family
The veteran poet breathed his last at his residence in Bhopal, a family member stated. Badr is survived by his wife and two children. His last rites were held in the evening, according to a relative.
Iconic Couplets and Literary Legacy
During the 1972 Shimla Agreement between India and Pakistan, Badr composed the famous couplet: "Dushmani jam kar karo lekin ye gunjaish rahe, jab kabhi hum dost ho jayein to sharminda na hon." His other celebrated couplets include "Kuch to majbooriyaan rahi hongi, yun hi koi bewafa nahi hota," "Ujale apni yaadon ke hamare saath rehne do, na jaane kis gali me zindagi ki shaam ho jaye," and "Log toot jaate hain ek ghar banane mein, tum taras nahi khate bastiyan jalane mein."
Tributes from Notable Figures
Noted lyricist Javed Akhtar expressed grief over Badr's demise. "Today, our language Urdu has become a little poorer. Bashir Badr, an extremely melodious poet, has departed from our gathering forever. This poet and his poetry will live on in our memories forever," Akhtar posted on X.
Style and Influence
Badr's ghazals, akin to those of Meer Taqi Meer, featured highly contemporary Urdu that resonated widely. His masterpieces often expressed anguished love and delved into life's mysteries. Born in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, on February 15, 1935, Badr was renowned for his Urdu mastery, especially in ghazals, and was also proficient in Persian, Hindi, and English.
Notable Works and Awards
'Aas,' an award-winning collection of 69 ghazals, is considered a jewel in Badr's poetic crown. His collection 'Kulliyate Bashir Badr' was published in Pakistan. He began writing poetry at age seven and pioneered blending Urdu's soft tenderness with English diction in many lyrics, according to a dedicated website. He published over seven Urdu poetry collections and one in Hindi, including ghazal collections 'Ikai,' 'Image,' 'Aamad,' 'Aahat,' and 'Kulliyate Bashir Badr.' He also authored two books of literary criticism: 'Azadi Ke Bad Urdu Ghazals Ka Tanqidi Mutala' and 'Biswin Sadi Mein Ghazal.' Additionally, he released a Devnagari script collection titled 'Ujjale Apni Yadon Ke.' His works have been published in Gujarati and translated into English and French.
Honors
Apart from the Padma Shri, Badr received four awards from the UP Urdu Academy, one from the Bihar Urdu Academy, the Meer Academy Award, and several other honors.
Life Challenges and Resilience
Badr's life was marked by hardship. His Meerut house was burnt during communal violence in April 1987, destroying most of his unpublished works. Undeterred, he started anew and moved to Bhopal. This tragedy, along with other challenges, infused strong pathos into his writings, as per the website. His global readership took him to the US, Dubai, Qatar, and Pakistan.
