Renowned poet Bashir Badr passes away:Dies at 91 after long battle with dementia

Renowned Urdu poet Dr Bashir Badr passed away in Bhopal on Thursday afternoon at the age of 91. He breathed his last around noon on the day of Bakrid. He is survived by his wife Rahat and son Tayyab. Bashir Badr had been suffering from dementia for a long time. His memory had weakened badly and he had also stopped recognising many people. His health had been declining steadily over the past few months. He was widely known for his simple yet deeply emotional poetry. One of his most famous couplets was: “Ujale Apni Yaadon Ke Hamare Saath Rehne Do, Na Jaane Kis Gali Mein Zindagi Ki Shaam Ho Jaaye.” Bashir Badr gave Urdu ghazals a fresh and modern style. He stayed away from traditional forms of poetry and used simple, everyday words that connected easily with common people. His poetry reflected themes of love, pain, loneliness and life’s struggles. Some of his best-known lines include: “Log Toot Jaate Hain Ek Ghar Banane Mein,
Tum Taras Nahi Khaate Bastiyan Jalane Mein.” His work has been loved by poetry fans across generations. Several organisations are now planning to translate his poetry into Punjabi, Bengali, Nepali and Russian languages, with permission from his family. More than a dozen of his ghazal collections have been published in Hindi, while seven collections were released in Urdu. Bashir Badr completed his postgraduation from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in 1969. Later, he joined the Urdu department at Meerut College as a lecturer on 12 August 1974 and taught there until 1990. The period between 1974 and 1990 is considered the golden phase of his literary career. During this time, his poetry gained popularity not only in India but also abroad. His simple language and emotional depth made him one of the most admired voices in Urdu poetry. The family is yet to announce the final timing of his funeral, though the last rites are expected to take place later this evening in Bhopal.