Wamick Hussain

Dr Rahatullah Qureshi, famously known as Rahat Indori (Rahat being the pen name) was a lyricist, a fearless Urdu poet, a professor, and a painter. He was born on January 1, 1950, in the city of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and passed away at the age of seventy on August 11, 2020, because of cardiac arrest. He was unfortunately also tested Covid positive a day before he died.
Rahat Indori had done his schooling from Nutan School, Indore. Because of financial problems at home, he started sign-painting from an early age. He graduated from Islamia Karimia College, Indore, in the year 1973 and completed his post-graduation from Barkatullah University, Bhopal, in 1975. He went on to do a PhD in Urdu Literature in 1985, where his thesis was ‘Urdu mai Mushaira’. He taught Urdu Literature at Devi Ahliya Vshwavidyalaya for about sixteen years and apart from teaching and poetry, he painted several Bollywood posters and banners as well. He has been a renowned poet who received recognition and awards both at national as well as at international level such as Mirza Ghalib Award (Jhansi), Jagjit Singh Award (Nirmala Devi Foundation), Kaifi Aazmi Award, Dr Zakir Hussain Award (New Delhi), National Integration Award (Indian Cultural Society, New Delhi), Honour from Houston City Council (USA, Embassy of India, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), etc. From actively performing in Mushairas and Kavi Sammelans, he was also called to present and perform in different countries such as USA, UK, Canada, Singapore, Pakistan etc.
Some of his famous published books are Dhoop Bahut Hai, Chand Pagal Hai, Maujood, Naraz etc. Moreover, some of his Bollywood songs are Mere khayaal mein for the film Main Tera Aashiq, Tuta hua dil tere hawaale for the film Aashiyan, Tumsa koi pyaara koi masoom for the film Khuddar, Tum maano ya na maano for the film Khuddar, Dil ko hazaar baar roka for the film Murder, M Bole to for the film Munnabhai MBBS, Dekh le aankhon mein aankhien daal for the film Munnabhai MBBS, Dhuan Dhuan for the film Mission Kashmir, Chori chori jab nazrein mili for the film Kareeb, Dekho dekho jaanam ham for the film Ishq, Neend churayee meri for the film Ishq, Murshida for the film Begum Jaan, Koi jaye to le aye for the film Ghatak.
Some of his famous shayiri/ lines of poetry are:

Bulati hai magar jane ka nahi,
Wo duniya hai udhar jane ka nahi

Mai mar jaun to meri alag pehchan likh dena,
Lahu se meri peshani pe Hindustan likh dena

Ankh me pani rakho, hontho pe chingari rakho,
zinda rehna hai to tarkeebein bahut sari rakho

Kisne dastak di, dil pe, ye kaun hai?
Aap to andar hain, baahar kaun hai?

Ye haadsa to kisi din guzarne wala tha,
Mai bach bhi jata to ek roz marne wala tha

Sabhi ka khoon shamil hai is mitti me,
Kisi ke baap ka Hindustan thodi hai

The writer has graduated from Ambedkar University, Delhi

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