Mirza Ghalib

Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan (27 December 1797–15 February 1869) had two pen names Ghalib (dominant) and Asad (lion). He was a classical Urdu and Persian poet. Mirza Ghalib wrote ghazals in Urdu. He is one of the most popular and influential poets of the Urdu language. His father Mirza Abdullah Baig Khan died in a battle in 1803 in Alwar. Mirza Ghalib was raised by his Uncle Mirza Nasrullah Baig Khan. He was married at age 13 to Umrao Begum, daughter of Nawab Ilahi Bakhsh. None of his seven children survived beyond infancy. The idea that life is one continuous painful struggle which can end only when life itself ends, is a recurring theme in his poetry. Mirza Ghalib was appointed as poet tutor of Bahadur Shah Zafar in 1854. Mirza Ghalib was a very liberal mystic who believed that the search for God within liberated the seeker from the Orthodox Islam. His Sufi views and mysticism is greatly reflected in his poems and ghazals. Mirza Ghalib's closest rival was poet Zauq. There was mutual respect for each other' s talent. Both also admired and acknowledged the supremacy of Meer Taqi Meer. Momin and Dagh were also famous contemporaries of Mirza Ghalib.

Baba Bulleh Shah

Baba Bulleh Shah (1680-1758), is a shining star of Punjabi Sufi Poetry. His poetry is a great satire on any type of religious orthodoxy. His poetry appeals, as he adopted symbols and metaphors from his surroundings. Baba Bulleh Shah has shown extreme bravery and secularism while writing against the religious bigotry and tyranny of the rulers of his times. Punjabi Poetry of Baba Bulleh Shah consists of Kafian, Dohre, Baranmah, Athwara, Gandhan and Siharfian

Baba Sheikh Farid

Farid-ud-din Masud Ganjshakar (1173–1266) is commonly known as Baba Sheikh Farid or Baba Farid Ji. He was a 12th-century Sufi preacher and saint of the Chishti Order of South Asia. He was born at Kothiwal village, 10 km from Multan ( Pakistan ) to Jamal-ud-din Suleiman and Maryam Bibi (Qarsum Bibi). He is generally recognized as the first major poet of the Punjabi language and is considered one of the great saints of the Punjab. He is one of the fifteen Sikh bhagats and selections from his work are included in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. His poetry in Sri Guru Granth Sahib includes four Shabads (hymns) and 112 Shlokas. He is respected equally among Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji

Guru Gobind Singh Ji, (22 December 1666 – 7 October 1708), the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, was born at Patna Sahib. His father was Guru Teg Bahadur Ji and mother was Mata Gujri Ji. He founded Khalsa Panth on the day of Baisakhi in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib. He was a great poet and patronised many other poets. Sholars have different opinions about his writings. Some scholars are of the view that all of his writings and the writings of other poets were washed away in Sarsa Nadi, while some others say that his writings are still found in other Granths.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji

Guru Nanak Dev Ji (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539) was the founder of Sikhism. He was born at Rai-Bhoi-di Talwandi in the present district of Shekhupura (Pakistan), now Nanakana Sahib. His father, Mehta Kalyan Das Bedi (Mehta Kalu) was the patwari (accountant) in the employment of Rai Bular Bhatti. Guru Nanak’s mother was Tripta Devi and he had one elder sister, Bibi Nanaki. He was married to Mata Sulakhni ji, who gave birth to two sons: Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das. In November 1504, Bibi Nanaki ji took him to Sultanpurlodhi where he worked as storekeeper in the modikhana of the local Nawab, Daulat Khan Lodhi. He proceeded on four long tours (udasis) covering different religious places in India and abroad. He wrote 947 hymns including Japji Sahib, Asa-Di-Var, Bara-Mah, Sidh-Gosht, Onkar (Dakhani)