MUZTAR KHAIRABADI

Family 

Muztar Khairabadi (full name Syed Iftikhar Hussain Rizvi) was born in 1865 in Khairabad, District Sitapur, U.P. He was born in a family famous in Awadh for renowned scholars, poets and Sufis. He was the maternal grandson of 'Allama Maulvi Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi', a poet, philosopher, and religious scholar. a literary person of Arabic, Persian, and Urdu. Allama Fazl e Haq was a freedom fighter and played an important role in the first Independence Movement of India in 1857. His paternal grandfather 'Tafazzul Hussain' was Ambassador of the State of Tonk, in Delhi. He had good relationship with Mirza Ghalib and he introduced Ghalib to 'Nawab Wazir-ud Daula' of Tonk state. Muztar Khairabadi's father was 'Haafiz Ahmad Hasan Ruswa'. Muztar's elder brother 'Sayed Mohammad Husain Bismil' was ustad of 'Nawab Ibrahim Ali Khan' of Tonk.

Muztar's mother "Sayeedat-un-Nisa Hirmaan Khairabadi" was the daughter of 'Allama Fazle Haq Khairabadi' and the sister of 'Maulvi Shamsul Haq Khairabadi' and 'Maulvi Abdul Haq Khairabadi'. She was an enlightened poetess of Urdu, Farsi and Hindi herself. She was very talented woman with many great qualities. Her brother 'Maulana Abdul Haq Khairabadi' said of her, "I am glad that she was a woman and not a man. Had she been my brother, I would not have had a chance to shine intellectually in front of her. She is such a great mind." It is notable that 'Hirmaan Khairabadi' was an outstanding scholar and poetess in an era when female education was not very common. Muztar grew up under the patronage of his mother, and got initial Islah (correction) in poetry from her. For a brief period he took guidance from Ameer Minai. 

Career

The ancestors of Muztar Khairabadi served the state of Tonk in very high positions. He started his carrier there and rose to the position of Judge. Muztar also served as a District judge and District Magistrate in the states of Gwalior. He was a man of versatile genius. He is famous for issuing his judicial verdict in extemporaneous verse ('Fil-Badih'). He is also famous for the judgment in the case of Nuthmul, whom he set free in spite of the Maharaja of Gwalior's instructions to the contrary. The Maharaja had Nuthmul framed in a case which came before Muztar Sahib. Muztar found Nuthmul not guilty as charged and set him free. Thereafter, having defied his royal patron, he left his judicial service in Gwalior and fled to Bhopal. In his final years, he lived and worked in Indore.

 Muztar had a sharp and creative mind and a remarkable memory. In a room full of his disciples he would ask them to recite their poems, keep track of who had read what, and make corrections. He was a wealthy, handsome man and always wore elegant clothes. His wealth derived from his service as a legal adviser to Nawabs and Maharajas. He was also a teacher and mentor of the 'Nawab of Rampur'. 

Muztar Khairabadi died in 1927 at Gwalior and is buried there.

 Muztar Khairabadi's descendants who continue his Urdu poetic tradition include his sons 'Eitbar Husain Bartar Khairabadi', 'Yadgar Husain Nashtar Khairabadi', 'Jan Nisar Husain Akhtar' (Jan Nisar Akhtar), and his grandsons 'Barqarar Husain', 'Naamdar Husain', 'Shaandar Husain', 'Dr.Shahzad Rizvi', 'Irshad Rizvi', and 'Zia Khairabadi', and grandaughters 'Syeda Naheed Nashtar', 'Dr. Syeda Suhela Nashtar', 'Dr. Syeda Imrana Nashtar', 'Rukhsana Waseem', 'Javed Akhtar', and 'Dr. Salman Akhtar'. Next to this generation family members include, 'Farhan Akhtar', 'Zoya Akhtar', 'Kabir Akhtar', and 'Nishat Akhtar'.

 Poetic work 

Muztar Khairabadi was well-known for his 'Naatia Kalaam'. He wrote a poetry collection, 'Nazr-e-Khuda', in praise of God. His 'Neyaz-e-Mustafa' is collection of Naat's (praising the Prophet Mohammad SAW). His collection "Meelaad-e-Mustafa" also in praise of the Prophet was published by Alvi Press, Bhopal. Muztar Khairabadi's poem 'Behr-e-Taweel' and his Nazm 'Marg-e-Ghalat Ki Fariyad' are considered to be remarkable in Urdu poetry. His prose is also forceful. "Allah Bas Baaqi Hawas", "Dukhi Ki Pukar", and "Munh Dekhi Muhabbat" are good examples of his prose. A collection of his poetry, 'Ilhamaat', was edited by his son, 'Nashtar Khairabadi'. 

Muztar Khairabadi published a magazine entitled 'Karishama-e-Dilbar' in Khairabad, Sitapur. Muztar Khairabadi spent his life in Khairabad, Tonk, Gwalior, Indore, Bhopal and Rampur. In his lifetime he received numerous distinguishing titles, including 'Khan Bahadur', 'Eitbar-ul-Mulk', and 'Iftikhar-ush-Shu'ara'. 

One of Muztar Khairabadi's most famous poems, "Na Kisi Ki Aankh Ka Noor Hoon" is often incorrectly attributed to 'Bahadur Shah Zafar', because of the deep sorrow and dejection expressed in it. 

Muztar Khairabadi was a prolific poet. His nazm "Bahr e Taweel" is a unique in poetic expression .The nazm has eight misrah {verses}, each misrah containing more than 200 words.

Muztar Khairabadi's collection of poetry "Khirman" was edited by his son Jaan Nisar Akhtar but could not be published during his lifetime due to his early demise. After more than two decades his grandson Javed Akhtar decided to to publish his grandfather's valuable work. He compiled his poetic work and got published Khirman in 5 volumes. Khirman was released on 5th sept 2015 by the then Vice President of India Hamid Ansari in Delhi. 

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