Padma Shri awardee and popular poet Bashir Badr passed away on Thursday, 28 May, in Bhopal. He breathed his last at his Eidgah Hills home at 91. Moreover, he had been ill for a long time and faced age-related health issues. His passing leaves the Urdu poetry community deeply saddened.
Bashir Badr, whose real name was Syed Mohammad Bashir, was born on 15 February 1935. Furthermore, he suffered from dementia for years, losing memory and recognition of people. Recently, his health declined steadily, and his family cared for him during his final days.
Legacy Through Ghazals
Bashir Badr explained love, loneliness, memories, relationships, and human emotions with rare simplicity. Moreover, he drew audiences at mushairas across India and abroad. His famous couplets, including “Na ji bhar ke dekha, na kuch baat ki; badi arzoo thi mulaqat ki,” and “Agar talaash karun, koi mil hi jayega; magar tumhari tarah kaun mujh ko chahega,” remain widely cherished. Furthermore, lines like “Sar jhukaoge to patthar devta ho jayega; itna mat chaho use, woh bewafa ho jayega” continue to inspire readers.
Tributes and Mourning
Meanwhile, poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar expressed grief, saying Urdu has grown a little poorer today. Additionally, he called Bashir Badr extremely sweet and said his ghazals will live forever in collective memory. His poetry will continue to resonate with listeners for decades.
Bashir Badr’s last rites have not yet been finalised. However, his family indicated the funeral may occur this evening. Consequently, admirers and poetry lovers await the final homage in Bhopal, remembering a poet whose simplicity and depth touched countless hearts.
