Daily Times

Munir Ahmed, commonly known as Munir Niazi, was an acclaimed multilingual poet who is recognised as one of the legends of the Subcontinent’s literary history.

Munir was born on this day (April 9) in 1928 in Hoshiarpur, British India, while he migrated and settled in Sahiwal, Pakistan after partition.

Munir earned an intermediate degree from Sadiq Egerton College in Bahawalpur and a BA degree from Dayal Singh College in Lahore.

Niazi was a master of poetic imagery who had a gifted command over multiple genres of poetry and is remembered for his unique style and rhythm. Mythology, nostalgia and romance were the recurrent themes of his poetry that set him apart from the rest of the literary fraternity.

His more prominent works include Mah-e-Munir, Kulliyat-e-Munir, Pheli Baat Hi Akhri Thi, Aghaz-e-Zaminstan Mein Dobara, Safar Di Raat among several others. His poetry was also very popular among musicians and filmmakers who composed his words into melodies that still hit the right chords.

Moreover, his verses were sung by legends like Noor Jehan, Mehdi Hasan and Naheed Akhtar.

For his literary works and services to the country, Niazi was honoured with Pride of Performance award in 1992 and Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2005.

Niazi passed away on December 26, 2006 in Lahore due to respiratory illness.

Here is a inforgraphic on some of Niazi’s best works and achievements.