Sahir Lakhnavi

Not to be confused with Sahir Ludhianvi.

Sahir Lakhnavi (born Syed Qaim Mehdi Naqvi; 6 September 1931 – 25 November 2019) was a Pakistani classical Urdu poet and the 20th century's last marsiya writer of Pakistan. He wrote gazals, nazms, qataat-i-tareekh, particularly marsiya and qasida throughout his literary career. He wrote twenty books on multiple subjects, including linguistics, poetry, prosody, seerat, history, theology and tafseer. He also appears to have written to the Persian literature, but his primary contribution appears in Urdu.

Sahir Lakhnavi
Syed Qaim Mehdi Naqvi a.k.a. Sahir Lakhnavi
Born	Syed Qaim Mehdi Naqvi (1931-09-06)6 September 1931 Karachi, Pakistan
Died	25 November 2019(2019-11-25) (aged 88) Karachi, Pakistan
Resting place	Wadi-e-Hussain
Pen name	Sahir Lakhnavi
Occupation	Poet
Language	Urdu, Persian
Nationality	Pakistani
Education	MA, LL.B.
Alma mater	Government Dayal Singh College
Genre	Marsiya Qasida Gazal Nazm
Subject	Linguistics Prosody Seerat History Theology Tafsir
Partner	Nawab Syed Akhtar Hussain Masood Lakhnavi
Children	5
Relatives	Fazil Lakhnavi (grandfather)

He was born as Syed Qaim Mehdi Naqvi on 6 September 1931 in Karachi, India. He was the grandson of Fazil Lakhnavi, an Islamic scholar and son of Nawab Syed Akhtar Hussain Masood Lakhnavi who belonged to Ghufran Ma’ab family. He did his matriculation in 1937 from his hometown, and later attended a government college in Ludhiana for higher education. However, he was suspended from the college due to his uncertain irresponsibility, and he subsequently attended Government Dayal Singh College, Lahore where he was again suspended due to his alleged involvement in biological basis of love. He then obtained Master of Arts and Bachelor of Laws in Karachi. He had four daughters and one son.

Career

Sahir wrote prose and poetry in Urdu language, however he is primarily recognised for writing marsiya and qasida besides gazals and nazms. He published most of his work during his aging-associated disease. His research work on mersia titled Marsiya Per Aitrazat Ka Tanqidi Jaiza is recognised one of the prominent publications which covers the history of mersia.

Publications

Key

†	Notes denote a short description of the work where available.

#	Title	Year	Type/Credited as	Notes	Ref.
1	Sahifa Madhas	—	Qasida
2	Aayat-e-Dard	—	Marsia
3	Ehsaas-e-Gham	—	Marsia
4	Qutub Shah Se Sahir Tak	—	Marsia
5	Faqa Wa Dhamsheer	—	Marsia
6	Shaksi Marsia	—	Marsia
7	Yakeen-e-Qamil	—	Book	A book covering religious issues and its related topics
8	Imani Sha Parey	—	Book	A book comprising religious articles or texts
9	Laho Rang Sehra	—	Book	It comprises lamentations and traditions
10	Aayeena Shamas Nama	—	Book
11	Baaten Humari Reh Gayi	—	Book
12	Bare Sageer Mein Ehtijaaj Ka Aagaz	—	Book
13	Critical Review and Objections on Marsia	—	Book	A research book covering history of marsia
14	Mata-e-Gham	—	Book	a collection of mersias

Death

He died on 25 November 2019 in Karachi, Pakistan after a chronic medical complication. He is buried in Wadi-e-Hussain cemetery.

Further reading

• Rafique, Dr. Rubina (31 December 2010). "ساحر لکھنوی کی قصیدہ نگاری". Journal of Research (Urdu). 18 (1). Bahauddin Zakariya University: 1–10. Retrieved 14 September 2020.