Momin Khan Momin

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Momin Khan (1800-1851) was an Indian poet famous for his Urdu ghazals and used "Momin" as his takhallus (the Urdu word for nom de plume). He was born in Delhi. He was also called "Hakeem Momin Khan" because he was a physician also. Hakeem is an Urdu word for physician.

Momin is known for his particular persianized style and the beautiful use of his takhllus. According to legend, Mirza Ghalib (his contemporary and also a rival) offered Momin his entire diwan (collection of poetry) in exchange for a partcular verse of Momin. The couplet in question was:

Tum mere paas hote ho goya/

Jab koi doosra nahin hota.

It feels as if you are with me, when no one else is,

One of his very famous ghazals starts with the following matla (the first line of the opening couplet of a ghazal).

Woh jo hum mein tum mein qaraar tha, tumhein yaad ho ke na yaad ho

Oh that mutual promise/agreement that existed between us, whether you remember or don't...

Example of Momin's work

Momin Khan Momin's poem "voh jo hum mein tum mein qaraar tha" which is shown below, is one of the most famous poems of Urdu literature.

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