Poet behind 'Hosh waalon Ko Khabar Kya', Nida Fazli, passes away at 78

Renowned poet and lyricist Nida Fazli, who has enthralled several generations with his soul-stirring compositions like 'Kabhie kisi ko mukamil jahan nahi milta' and 'Hosh waalon ko khabar kya', died in Mumbai on Monday due to heart failure. He was 78.

Muqtida Hasan Nida Fazli, popularly known as Nida Fazli, was a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi award and Padma Shri. Born in Delhi in a Kashmiri family, Fazli did his schooling in Gwalior. During the partition, his parents migrated to Pakistan, but Fazli decided to stay in India.

He complained of breathlessness this morning at around 11 AM at his residence in suburban Mumbai. "When we reached the hospital we were informed that he is no more," a relative told PTI.

"He was just having minor cold and cough... he had no medical history as such, so it's shocking for us," he said.

Fazli, whose father was also an Urdu poet, was known for his elegant presentation and use of colloquial language for ghazals, nazms and dohas in Urdu and Hindi. He is survived by his wife and a daughter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi along with other leaders expressed grief over the death of the acclaimed poet. His fans and members of the literary community too expressed shock and sadness at his demise.

"Nida Fazli Sahab is no longer with us but his verses will live on & so will his contribution to writing & cinema. My thoughts are with the admirers of Nida Fazli Sahab. His demise is indeed very saddening," Modi said.

Sonia said Fazli "will be remembered forever for his writings".

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Urdu literature has lost a popular figure in Fazli's demise.

Some of his famous ghazals include "Kabhie Kisi Ko Mukamil Jahan Nahi Milta", 'Aa Bhi Jaa, Aa Bhi Jaa' ("Sur"), "Tu Is Tarah Se Meri Zindagi Mein" ("Aap Toh Aise Na They") and 'Hosh Waalon Ko Khabar Kya' ("Sarfarosh").

Urdu novelist Rahman Abbas said Fazli was a bright symbol of Indian literature.

"I am saddened by the news of demise of Nida Fazli. He was very close to me, and I had spoken with him a week ago," Abbas told PTI.

"Undoubtedly, his death is a great loss for Indian literature and Urdu language. Nida Fazli was a bright symbol of liberal tradition of our civilisation and culture, a progressive man with great understanding of Indian poetry and prose," he said.