The 46th death anniversary of renowned Urdu Ghazal poet Saghar Siddiqui was observed on Sunday. Siddiqui was born in 1928 in Ambala and belonged to a middle-class family.

He was the only child of his parents and spent early years of his life in Ambala and Saharanpur UP, India. His real name was Muhammad Akhtar.

He was a prodigious lad who began writing poetry as a child. He was 19 when he migrated to Pakistan in 1947 and settled in Lahore.

Siddiqui was home tutored and received his early education from Habib Hassan, a family friend.

In those days with his slim appearance, wearing pants and boski (yellow silky cloth) shirts, with curly hair, and reciting beautiful ghazals in a melodious voice, he became a huge success. He had some tragic turns in his life.

Siddiqui continued to write poetry for the film industry and moved on to publish a literary magazine.

The magazine was a critical success but a commercial flop. Disappointed, Saghar shut down the magazine. In his later life, he fell into depression, financially ruined and addicted to drugs.

Despite his shattered life, some of his verses (ash'aar) are among the best in Urdu poetry.

His poetry earned immense popularity even after his death.

Some of his famous lyrical verses are: "Zindagi Jbr-Musalasal Kit Rah Kati Hay-Janay Kis Jurm Ki Payi Hay Saza Yaad Nahi”.

“Ao ek Sajda Karay Alamay Madhooshi Mein--Log Kehtay hain keh Shaghar Ko Khuda Yaad  Nahi”.

Shagar another famous ghazal: "Dil mila aur gham shanaas mila/phool ko aag ka libas mila/ Har shanaawar bhanwar main dooba tha/Jo sitara mila udaas mila".

On July 19, 1974, he was found dead on a roadside in Lahore at the age of 46. He was buried at the Miani Sahib graveyard.