About the Author

Ghalib (Mirza Asadullah Khan) was born in 1797 with Seljuk Turk ancestry. His father and uncle led mercenary troops for various Indian rajahs, but both died by the time Ghalib was nine years old. By assiduous work, he eventually became a respected court poet. He lived through the Sepoy Mutiny of four months, later writing about it, as the British regained control of India. He claimed to be free from the bonds of convention and every religion. He died at age 73.