Mohsin Zaidi

Mohsin Zaidi was an Urdu poet  was born in Bahraich,  in  Uttar Pradesh in India on 10 July 1935, to parents, Saiyed Ali Raza Zaidi and Sughra Begum. He died in Lucknow on 3 September 2003.

He had his early schooling in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh - Islamia School (1940 – 1942); K. P. Hindu High School (1943 – 1948); Government High School (1949 – 1950). He did his senior school from Maharaj Singh Inter College, Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh (1951-1952). He did his Bachelor in Arts from Lucknow University, in English Literature, History, Economics (1953-1954). He got his Masters in Economics from Allahabad University (1955-1956).

He joined the Indian Economic Service in 1956 and worked with the Government of India till his retirement in 1993.

Held many positions with the Central Government in ministries of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Labour, Agriculture; and in the Planning Commission. He retired as a ‘Senior Economist’ in the Senior Administrative Grade of Joint Secretary. As part of government assignments he toured countries like Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Algeria.

He started writing Urdu poetry in 1950 at the age of 15 while still in high school in Pratapgarh. Initially he was impressed by Naazish Pratapgarhi, a young progressive writer who was emerging as a prominent poet on the local literary scene. However his major inspiration came from the works of classical poets like Mir Taqi Mir, Momin Khan Momin, Mirza Ghalib, Haider Ali Aatish, Mir Anis, Daagh Dehlvi and Mir Dard. Among the neo-classical and modern poets his favourites were Allama ‘Iqbal’, Raghupati Sahay ‘Firaq’ Gorakhpuri, Faiz Ahmed ‘Faiz’, and ‘Jigar’ Muradabadi.

He got awards from Urdu Academies for his works, the last being from Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy for his last compilation of ghazals – ‘Jumbish-e-Nok-e-Qalam’ which was published posthumously.
Source : Wikipedia

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