Even if you're not a passionate follower of Urdu Shayari, there's no chance that you've not heard of Mirza Ghalib Saheb. Mirza Ghalib is a name that is synonymous with Urdu poetry. born in the Kala Mahal area of Agra on 27 December 1797 as Mirza Asadullah Khan.
Here are few unknown things about Mirza Galib
1. Ghalib’s grandfather, Mirza Qoqan Baig Khan, was a Turk who had immigrated from Uzbekistan. Later his father Mirza Abdullah Baig Khan worked for the Nawab of Lucknow and for the Nizam of Hyderabad. At the age of 5 years Ghalib lost his father then he was raised by his Uncle Mirza Nasrullah Baig Khan.
2. Ghalib had 7 children but none survived more than 15 months. He expressed the loss of his 7 children in many of his works. He later adopted his wife’s nephew, Arif, who too succumbed to tuberculosis at 35.
3. At the age of 11 to distinguish himself from others writers. He keep his pen name as “ Galib” which means superior, excellent and one who conquers all.
4. Galib was a great found of gambling and drinking.
5. There are no exact facts about his education but he is excelled at Persian, philosophy, Arabic and was also educated in logic.
6. Ghalib was a Muslim but he never fasted during Ramzaan. When asked about his identity, he once said: “I am half Muslim because I drink wine, but I don’t eat pork”.
7. Ghalib at one time had a debt of Rs. 40,000.
8. He breathed his last in his famous haveli, Gali Qasim Jaan at Chandni Chowk, in 1869. It is also known as Ghalib ki Haveli. This 300-year old haveli has been turned into 'Ghalib Memorial'.
