Agra, Jan 23 (IANS) Agra will on Saturday celebrate the 275th birth anniversary of noted 18th century Urdu poet Nazeer Akbarabadi, popularly known as the "people's poet". This year, the anniversary falls on Basant Panchami - the first day of spring.
The modest tomb of Akbarabadi, who wrote on subjects of love and common man's life, is located just 100 metres away from Taj Mahal. It will be in focus Saturday as his admirers will queue up to pay him homage.
For most part of the year, Nazir's tomb in the Taj Ganj area lies in a neglected state. Only during Basant Panchami does it springs back to life as a 'mushaira', or poets' conclave, is held.
The Agra Municipal Corporation and the Agra Development Authority took the initiative to provide a canopy over the tomb and spruce up the area to attract tourists who visit the Taj Mahal.
It was Nazeer Akbarabadi who gave Agra a new identity through his poetry.
He wrote about things that touched the hearts of both Muslims and Hindus and these included festivals, dance and theatre, bird fights and kite-flying.
Nazir looked at the follies of royalty with disdain but sang lyrically about the antics of Lord Krishna and poked fun at the fundamentalists.
The staging of his "Agra Bazar" play made noted theatre personality Habib Tanvir famous.
Nazir also loved the Taj Mahal 'deeply' and there is a story that once he decided to leave Agra for greener pastures but returned after walking some distance when he lost sight of the monument.
He wrote about the frolics of Lord Krishna with as ease and passion as he wrote the follies of those in power.
While Mirza Ghalib shifted to Delhi, Nazeer Akbarabadi moved over to Agra for his love of the ordinary, the bhakti of Krishna and to be one with the masses.
"That is why he is called the jan kavi, people's poet," said Jitendra Raguhvanshi, general secretary of Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA).
Even after increasing the age limit by the government in the Agneepath scheme made for recruitmen
Union Minister Giriraj Singh has been enraged over the controversial statement of Badruddin Ajmal
After the violence that took place on Sunday and Monday during the idol immersion procession in B
Instagram's server stopped once again, Hi-Hello nothing is happening Send
Instagram Down: Instant messaging app Instagram is down once again. People are not able to send m
Harvard University will no longer be able to admit foreign students. The Donald Trump administrat
Amid the ongoing tussle over Tej Pratap Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's hou
The fifth and final match of the five-match Test series between India and Australia is being play
The country's maritime security is going to get further strengthened. The recently inducted indig
The Japanese game show 'Takeshi Castle' remains in the news for its new season. The show gained i
India successfully test-fires cruise missile, alarm bells for China and Pakistan
India has successfully test-fired a cruise missile developed by the Defense Research and Developm
