Legendary Indian Urdu poet Rahat Indori passed away

 He was tested positive for coronavirus and admitted in hospital in Indore

The Popular Indian Urdu Poet and lyricist Rahat Indori passed away on Tuesday, hours after he had tweeted that he tested positive for coronavirus. He had been admitted in the ICU of a hospital in Indore. "After initial symptoms of COVID-19, my corona test was done yesterday which came out positive. Pray that I defeat this disease as soon as possible," Indori, 70, had tweeted. 

Indori was undergoing treatment in Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, where the chest department head Dr Ravi Dosi had said that the poet suffered from pneumonia and was being given oxygen.

Rahat Indori’s powerful and lucid poetry filled halls and connected with the young and old alike. He was a fearless poet. The teacher-turned-poet had been admitted to hospital on Tuesday morning after he tested positive for the disease. He is survived by three sons and a daughter.

With a 50-year career in poetry, Rahat Indori, an Urdu scholar of great repute, was one of the biggest mushaira (poetry symposiums) stars in the country and someone who fearlessly called a spade a spade. The wordsmith that he was, Rahat Indori translated the mood of the nation in his poetry that was emotive, direct and political.

Attacking religious divide and jingoism, Indori famously wrote, "Sabhi ka khoon shaamil hai yahan ki mitti mein, kisi ke baap ka Hindustan thodi hai" (Everyone’s blood is mingled in this earth. Hindustan is no one’s property). The lines were used on posters and banners during the anti-CAA protests, pushing him to almost cult status.

In fact, his lines, delivered in a trademark expressive style, almost teasing as it were, were very popular with Tik-Tok users and those who did not even care or understand Urdu poetry.

Earlier this year, his poem "Bulati hai magar Jane ka nahi" went viral on social media, making him a sensation among the youth. Memes using the poem's opening lines flooded social media during Valentine's Day.

Rahat Indori also wrote the lyrics of several songs, including "Chori Chori Jab Nazrein Mili" from "Kareeb", "Koi jaye to le aye" from "Ghatak" (1996), and "Neend Churai Meri" from "Ishq".

"His range, sharp political commentary, and love for language combined with his impeccable craft inspired generations of Hindustani poets in India and will continue to do so.

Rahat Indori did his schooling from Nutan School in Indore and his graduation from Islamia Karimia College Indore. He passed his MA exam in Urdu literature from Barkatullah University, Bhopal, in 1975 and was awarded a PhD in Urdu literature from the Bhoj University in 1985 for his thesis titled "Urdu Main Mushaira".

His death is not only a big loss of Indian literature but also for Urdu literature. Rahat Indori was not just popular in India but also in the Urdu speaking world internationally.  Rest in the peace great Rahat Indori. 

                                                                     Ali Nawaz