Altaf Hussain Hali

Altaf Hussain Hali was one of the pioneers of modern Urdu literature and one of the founders of Urdu literary criticism. Born in Panipat, he later moved to Delhi, where he studied Arabic and Persian and came into contact with prominent poets including Mirza Ghalib and Shefta. He initially wrote traditional ghazals but later became an important voice for reform and modernism in Urdu poetry. Influenced by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Muhammad Husain Azad, Hali advocated simplicity, realism and social relevance in literature. He was also a distinguished biographer, critic and translator. His Muqaddama-e-Sher-o-Shairi is regarded as a landmark work in Urdu literary criticism, while Yaadgar-e-Ghalib remains an important biography of Mirza Ghalib. Notable Works: Muqaddama-e-Sher-o-Shairi Yaadgar-e-Ghalib Hayat-e-Saadi Musaddas-e-Hali (Madd-o-Jazr-e-Islam) Munajat-e-Bewa Hayat-e-Javed