Poets

Momin Khan (Urdu: مومن خان) was an Indian poet known for his Urdu ghazals and used "Momin" as his takhallus (the Urdu word for nom de plume). He was a contemporary of Mirza Ghalib and Zauq, today his grave lies near the parking area near Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi.

Early Lfe

Momin Khan Momin was born in Delhi. He was also called "Hakeem Khan" because he was a physician also. Hakeem is an Urdu word for physician.

Career

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 particular verse of Momin. The couplet in question was:

"Tum mere paas hote ho goya / Jab koi doosra nahi hota" which translates to: "You are close to me [as if] / when no one else is." This couplet's beauty is in its succinctness and multiple layers of meaning. One of the meanings is "When you're with me(on my mind), noone else is" and a second meaning/interpretation is "You're with me(on my side), when noone else is." The two meanings emerge by the use of words goya and jab(when)."

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 hoo
Vohee yaani va'ada nibah ka, tumhaiN yaad ho ke na yaad ho"

"That understanding which we had between us... whether y..