Mumbai
Whenever the name of Rahat Indori comes up, one of the first lines that comes to mind is his viral couplet, “Bulati Hai Magar Jaane Ka Nahi.” His poetry reflected life, relationships and even the smallest details of an ordinary person’s everyday experiences.
Whenever he spoke on stage, audiences listened to him with rapt attention. He established a unique identity in the world of poetry, but there was another interesting side to his personality—his deep passion for sports. In an interview, he had revealed that during his early years, he saw himself as a sportsperson and played both hockey and football. He passed away on August 11, 2020.
Rahat Indori was born on January 1, 1950, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. His real name was Rahat Qureshi. Over time, Indore became such an integral part of his identity that he adopted ‘Indori’ as part of his name. He spent his childhood in Indore, and the city had a deep influence on his personality. His poetry later reflected the lives of ordinary people, the city and society.
Speaking about his love for sports, Rahat Indori had said in an interview, “In my early days, I saw myself as a sportsperson. I played both hockey and football. I also captained these teams at the school and college levels. At that time, the field was not just a place to play for me, but also a place where I learned leadership. Playing with other members of the team, taking responsibility and leading my team forward became an integral part of my personality. However, with time, my inclination towards Urdu literature and poetry grew.”
Rahat Indori pursued higher education in Urdu literature. He later became a prominent name in mushairas. His poetry used the language of ordinary people, which made it easy for audiences to connect with him. When he wrote about love, his verses touched the heart, while his writings on society and the system carried a clear sense of questioning and resistance.
In the internet era, a new generation also embraced his old poetry. The line “Bulati Hai Magar Jaane Ka Nahi” became widely discussed on social media and inspired numerous memes. However, behind this popularity were decades of hard work. He was not merely a poet who became famous through the internet; he had already established himself over many years through mushairas in India and abroad.
Rahat Indori also wrote songs for films. Some of his notable film songs include “Neend Churayi Meri” from 'Ishq', “Chori Chori Jab Nazrein Milin” from 'Kareeb', “Chan Chan” from 'Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.' and “Dil Ko Hazaar Baar Roka” from 'Murder'.
Rahat Indori passed away at the age of 70 on August 11, 2020. He was admitted to a hospital after testing positive for COVID-19, and news of his death the following day sent a wave of grief across the literary and film fraternity.
