Akbar Allahabadi (b. 1846 - d.1921) was a famous Urdu poet, who was born as Syed Akbar Hussain at Allahabad on 16th November, 1846. Though initially educated only in madrasas (religious school), he later studied law and finally retired as a session judge in Allahabad High Court. He lived through tumultuous times, which is evident in his poetry, witessing the first war of independence in 1857, first world war and even the initial part of Gandhi's peaceful movement.

Akbar's ustad was Waheed, who was the shagird of Aatish. Akbar is the pioneer in the field of humour and sarcasm; before him there were only serious poets who ocassionly had one or two ash'ar of that kind in their ghazals. For Akbar humour was not only a style but an instrument to clearly understand the social change. He conveys his message in his own original style without losing the humorous feel.

Like Iqbal he was also a poet of the mind, they both used their poetry to awaken the sleeping masses, but there is a sharp contrast in their styles. Underneath the wave of humour, we find the poet's pain - pain that this society is changing for the worst, pain that Muslims are forgetting their true values. Whereas Iqbal went on the define the causes and the solutions to those problems, Akbar style went more on defining the causes.

takeed-e-ibaadat pay yeH sab kahte haiN laRhke
peeri meiN bhi AKBAR ki zarafat nahiN jaati
[takeed-e-ibaadat = to remind for prayers, peeri= old age]

Akbar had great understanding and control of the Urdu language. He used simple language with very effective use. He also used English words in his poetry with interesting results, which was also to make fun of the Hindustanis who pretend to be British; a subculture that had thrived in the era of Akbar.

Another aspect of his poetry is the strict criticism of so called religious figures who destroyed the dignity of islam by playing double standards. His poetry is the mouth piece of the modern culture at that time and clearly portrays his indepth knowledge with what was happened and the transition in cultural values.

He died in 1921 in Allahabad, the city of his birth.

Ghamzah nahin hota ke ishara nahin hota
Ankh un say joe milte hay toe kya kya nahin hota
.....
Jalvah na hoe ma'ani ka toe surat ka asar kya
Bulbul gul-e-tasveer ka shaeda nahin hota
......
Allah bacha'ay marz-e-ishq say dil koe!
Suntay hain ke ye aarzah acha nahin hota
......
Tashbeeh terey chehray koe kya daur gul-e-tar say
Hota hay shagufta, magar itna nahin hota
......
Hum aah bhee kartay hain toe hoe jaatay hain badnaam
Voh qatal bhee kartay hain to charcha nahin hota

Shaikh apni rag ko kya karen reshe ko kya karen
mazhab ke jhagre choren to peshe ko kya karen
Farhaad se kaha ke munasib hai tujhko sabr
kehne laga bataiye teshe ko kya karen

Jo baat munasib hai woh hasil nahi karte
Jo apni giraah me hai woh kho bhi rahe hain
Be ilm bhi humlog hain ghaflat bhi hai taari
Afsos ke andhe bhi hain aur so bhi rahe hain

duniyaa me.n huu.N duniyaa kaa talab_gaar nahii.n huu.N

duniyaa me.n huu.N duniyaa kaa talab_gaar nahii.n huu.N
baazaar se guzaraa huu.N Khariidaar nahii.n huu.N

zindaa huu.N magar ziist kii lazzat nahii.n baaqii
har chand ki huu.N hosh me.n hoshiyaar nahii.n huu.N

is Khaanaa-e-hastii se guzar jaauu.Ngaa belaus
saayaa huu.N faqat naqsh-e-diivaar nahii.n huu.N

afasurdaa huu.N ibarat se davaa kii nahii.n haajat
Gam kaa mujhe ye zauf hai biimaar nahii.n huu.N

vo gul huu.N Khizaa.N ne jise bar_baad kiyaa hai
uljhuu.N kisii daaman se mai.n vo Khaar nahii.n huu.N

yaarab mujhe mahafuus rakh us but ke sitam se
mai.n us kii inaayat kaa talab_gaar nahii.n huu.N

afasurdagii-o-jaur kii kuchh had nahii.n "Akbar"
kaafir ke muqaabil me.n bhii dii.n_daar nahii.N huu.N

saa.Ns lete huye bhii Darataa huu.N


saa.Ns lete huye bhii Dartaa huu.N
ye na samajhe.n ki aah kartaa huu.N

bahar-e-hastii me.n huu.N misaal-e-hubaab
miT hii jaataa huu.N jab ubharataa huu.N

[bahar-e-hastii = ocean of life]
[misaal-e-hubaab = like a bubble]

itanii aazaadii bhii Ganimat hai
saa.Ns letaa huu.N baat karataa huu.N

sheKh saahab Khudaa se Darate ho
mai.n to angrezo.n hii se Darataa huu.N

aap kyaa puuchhate hai.n meraa mizaaj
shukr allaah kaa hai marataa huu.N

ye ba.Daa aib mujh me.n hai 'akbar'
dil me.n jo aaye kah guzarataa huu.N

Dekhaa hai zindagii ko kuchh itanaa qariib se
chehare tamaam lagane lage hain ajiib se

is rengatii hayaat kaa kab tak uthaayen baar
biimaar ab ulajhane lage hain tabiib se

har gaam par hai majamaa-e-ushshaaq muntazir
maqtal kii raah milatii hai kuu-e-habiib se

is tarah zindagii ne diyaa hai hamaaraa saath
jaise koii nibaah rahaa ho raqiib se

ai ruuh-e-asar jaag kahaan so rahii hai tuu
aavaaz de rahe hain payambar saliib se