
Jigar Moradabadi( (born Ali Sikandar on 6 April 1890 in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, British India) ) was one of the most influential Urdu ghazal poets of the 20th century. His real name was Ali Sikandar, and he chose “Jigar” (meaning heart/soul) as his pen name, which perfectly matched the emotional intensity of his poetry.
He grew up in a culturally rich literary environment and received traditional education in Persian and Urdu, which strongly shaped his classical poetic style. Although he admired earlier masters like Mirza Ghalib and Dagh Dehlvi, Jigar developed his own voice, blending classical elegance with deep personal emotion.
Jigar was famous not only for his writing but also for his mesmerizing recitation style. His presence at mushairas drew huge crowds, and many of his verses became widely memorized and quoted. His poetry often explored:
Despite his fame, his personal life was marked by emotional struggles and financial difficulties, which added sincerity and intensity to his verses. This emotional honesty is one reason his poetry feels timeless and relatable even today.
Jigar Moradabadi’s contribution helped keep classical Urdu ghazal alive during a period of literary change. Today, he is remembered as a poet whose words came straight from the heart and went directly into the hearts of readers and listeners.
He adopted the pen name Jigar and became one of the most celebrated Urdu poets of the 20th century.
Jigar’s poetry is noted for its lyrical beauty, romantic depth, and melodic quality, and he was a popular performer in mushairas (poetry gatherings).
His major works include poetry collections such as Dagh-e-Jigar (1928), Shola-e-Tuur (1932), Aatish-e-Gul (1954) and the Diwan-e-Jigar.
In 1958, he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for Aatish-e-Gul, and he was only the second poet after Muhammad Iqbal to receive an honorary D.Litt. from Aligarh Muslim University.
Jigar spent much of his life in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, where he passed away on 9 September 1960.
दिल को सुकून, रूह को आराम आ गया,
मौत आ गई कि दोस्त का पैग़ाम आ गया।
Dil ko sukoon, rooh ko aaraam aa gaya,
maut aa gayi ki dost ka paighaam aa gaya.
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दिल को सुकून, रूह को आराम आ गया,
मौत आ गई कि दोस्त का पैग़ाम आ गया।
Dil ko sukoon, rooh ko aaraam aa gaya,
maut aa gayi ki dost ka paighaam aa gaya.
--------------------------------------------
तेरी आँखों का कुछ क़ुसूर नहीं,
हाँ, मुझी को ख़राब होना था।
Teri aankhon ka kuch qusoor nahi,
haan, mujhi ko kharaab hona tha.

तिरे जमाल की तस्वीर खींच दूँ लेकिन,
ज़बाँ में आँख नहीं, आँख में ज़बान नहीं।
Tire jamaal ki tasveer kheench doon lekin,
zabaan mein aankh nahi, aankh mein zabaan nahi.
--------------------------------------------
आबाद अगर न दिल हो तो बरबाद कीजिए,
गुलशन न बन सके तो बयाबाँ बनाइए। Aabaad agar na
Aabaad agar na dil ho to barbaad kijiye,
gulshan na ban sake to bayabaan banaiye.

उसने अपना बना के छोड़ दिया,
क्या असीरी है, क्या रिहाई है।
Usne apna bana ke chhod diya,
kya aseeri hai, kya rihaai hai.
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मेरी निगाह-ए-शौक़ भी कुछ कम नहीं मगर,
फिर भी तिरा शबाब तिरा ही शबाब है।
Meri nigaah-e-shauq bhi kuch kam nahi magar,
phir bhi tira shabaab tira hi shabaab hai.

सुना है हश्र में हर आँख उसे बे-पर्दा देखेगी,
मुझे डर है न तौहीन-ए-जमाल-ए-यार हो जाए।
Suna hai hashr mein har aankh use be-parda dekhegi,
mujhe dar hai na tauheen-e-jamaal-e-yaar ho jaaye.
--------------------------------------------
वो चीज़ कहते हैं फ़िरदौस-ए-गुमशुदा जिस को,
कभी-कभी तिरी आँखों में पाई जाती है।
Woh cheez kehte hain firdaus-e-gumshuda jis ko,
kabhi-kabhi tiri aankhon mein paayi jaati hai.

मैं जहाँ हूँ तिरे ख़याल में हूँ
तू जहाँ है मिरी निगाह में है
Main jahaan hoon tire khayaal mein hoon,
tu jahaan hai meri nigaah mein hai.
--------------------------------------------
मोहब्बत में हम तो जिए हैं, जिएँगे,
वो होंगे कोई और, मर जाने वाले।
Mohabbat mein hum to jiye hain, jiyenge,
woh honge koi aur, mar jaane wale.

कूचा-ए-इश्क़ में निकल आया
जिस को ख़ाना-ख़राब होना था
Koocha-e-ishq mein nikal aaya,
jisko khaana-kharaab hona tha.
--------------------------------------------
वो थे न मुझ से दूर, न मैं उन से दूर था,
आता न था नज़र तो नज़र का क़ुसूर था।
Woh the na mujh se door, na main un se door tha,
aata na tha nazar to nazar ka qusoor tha.

लाखों में इंतिख़ाब के क़ाबिल बना दिया,
जिस दिल को तुम ने देख लिया, दिल बना दिया।
Laakhon mein intikhaab ke qaabil bana diya,
jis dil ko tum ne dekh liya, dil bana diya.
--------------------------------------------
लबों पे मौज-ए-तबस्सुम निगह में बर्क़-ए-ग़ज़ब
कोई बताए ये अंदाज़-ए-बरहमी क्या है
Labon pe mauj-e-tabassum, nigah mein barq-e-ghazab,
koi bataaye ye andaaz-e-barhami kya hai.

पी रहा हूँ आँखों-आँखों में शराब,
अब न शीशा है न कोई जाम है।
Pee raha hoon aankhon-aankhon mein sharaab,
ab na sheesha hai na koi jaam hai.
--------------------------------------------
आँखों में नूर, जिस्म में बन कर वो जाँ रहे,
या'नी हमीं में रह के वो हम से निहाँ रहे।
Aankhon mein noor, jism mein ban kar woh jaan rahe,
ya‘ni hameen mein reh ke woh hum se nihaan rahe.
--------------------------------------------
क्या ख़बर थी ख़लिश-ए-नाज़ न जीने देगी,
ये तिरी प्यार की आवाज़ न जीने देगी।
Kya khabar thi khalish-e-naaz na jeene degi,
ye tiri pyaar ki aawaaz na jeene degi.

निगाह-ए-यास मिरी काम कर गई अपना,
रुला के उठ्ठे थे वो, मुस्कुरा के बैठ गए।
Nigaah-e-yaas meri kaam kar gayi apna,
rula ke uṭṭhe the woh, muskura ke baith gaye.
--------------------------------------------
नश्शा-ए-हुस्न को इस तरह उतरते देखा,
ऐब पर अपने कोई जैसे पशेमाँ हो जाए। Nashsha-e-husn ko is tarah utarte dekha,
aib par apne koi jaise pashemaan ho jaaye.
Aankhon mein noor, jism mein ban kar woh jaan rahe,
ya‘ni hameen mein reh ke woh hum se nihaan rahe.
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