This is a representative selection of Nawab Mustafa Khan Shaifta’s poetry. Shaifta wrote his verse both in Urdu and Persian, and assumed two poetic names, Shaifta for Urdu verse, and Hasrati for his Persian poetry. He also wrote a history of Urdu poets under the title: Gulshan-e-Baykhaar. Half way through life Shaifta turned away from romance to religion. He undertook a pilgrimage to Mecca which was completed in two years. He was a patron of poets and his house was the hub of poetic activity, a favourite venue for Mushairas. His poetry, though it deals with the conventional themes of love and romance, is remarkable for the sincerity and frankness of sentiment, alacrity and aptness of style, a pleasing musicality, and an easy accessibility. Among the famous men who admired his poetic genius may be included Ghalib, Hali and Hasrat Mohani.
AUTHOR DESCRIPTION
Nawab Mustafa Khan Shaifta (1809-1869) was born in Delhi in 1809. He received his elementary education from the famous local teachers, Mian ji Maal Maal, and Haji Mohammed Nur Naqshbandi. He had acquired proficiency in Urdu, Persian and Arabic at an early age and had started writing poetry at the age of sixteen. His poetry is composed in a variety of forms, including ghazals, masnavis, nazm, and rubayys.
Dr Moinuddin Aqeel, PhD, DLitt, is an outstanding critic, author and linguist of Urdu. He was the chairperson of the Department of Urdu, International Islamic University, Islamabad. He has also served the University of Karachi as a Professor and the Chairperson of the Urdu department. He has also been the Director of the Bureau of Composition, Compilation and Translation, University of Karachi. He is the author of many books of repute.
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