mmercial and military centre, that the hybrid tongue
took definite shape; it was named Zaban-i-urdu (literally, the
language of the army) or simply Urdu, and was written in the Persian
character. Even in its infancy it manifested a wealth of poetic
inspiration derived from its varied ancestry.

The poets from whose work the lyrics in this book have been selected
were mostly writers of voluminous Diwans, and they occupied various
and diverse stations in life. Some were Rulers, some soldiers, some
darweshes (devotees), some men of letters only. The name given is in
each case the takhallus (pen-name); each has some special significance,
as Sauda, the folly of love, Momin, the believer, Zafar, the
victorious; and frequently this name is introduced, by way of signature,
into the closing stanza of a poem.

ABRU: born at Lucknow, lived at Delhi, was a darwesh of the Order of
Kalenders, and wrote an Urdu Diwan much appreciated for the ingenious
allegories in which it abounds.

AMIR: Amir Minai of Rampur, one of the best poets of the latest period:
a great mystical poet: his Qasidahs for Muhammad are sung by devotees:
Court poet of Rampur: travelled to Mecca and Medina, and, after the
death of his patron, Nawab Kalbe Ali Khan, came to Hyderabad on hearing
of the Nizam's fame and interest in poetry: rival of Dagh, by whose
side he lies buried in Hyderabad.

ARZU: a poet of Gwalior, where he held an important Government post
in the days of Shah Alam II. (r. 1759-1806). He wrote his poems mostly
in Persian, and was the author of a Dictionary of Mystical words.

ASIF: pen-name of H.H. Mir Mahbub Ali Khan, Nizam of Hyderabad, who
died in 1911: pupil of the poet Dagh (q.v.) and was an esteemed poet,
and patron of poets.

DAGH: a court poet of Rampur: went to Hyderabad and became the teacher
of the Nizam in poetry (see Asif): lived there in great honour as Poet
Laureate, and was given the title of Fasih-ul-Mulk (the eloquence of
the nation): his poetry is described as natural and graceful in
expression: his proficiency was so great that no poet could stand
against him in the Mushaira: he was of extraordinary wit.

FIGHAN: of Delhi: was the foster-brother of the Emperor Ahmad Shah
(r. 1748-1754) and was one of the principal officers at the Imperial
Court: famous for his piquant and witty conversation, and greatly
skilled in jeux de mots, at which he spent his days and nights.

GHALIB: came of a distinguished Turk family of Sama