ISLAMABAD: The 216th birth anniversary of renowned poet Mirza Ghalib being observed Friday (today).

Mirza Ghalib 'the last great poet of the Mughal Era' is considered to be one of the most popular and influential poets of the Urdu language. Ghalib was born on December 27, 1796 in the city of Akbarabad (present Agra). His full name was "Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan" and "Ghalib" was his pen name.

He wrote several ghazals during his life, which have since been interpreted and sung in many different ways by different people.

Ghalib today remains popular not only in India and Pakistan but also amongst diaspora communities around the world.

Mirza Ghalib is considered to be the most dominating poet of the Urdu language.

He was one of the best of Urdu poets who led a drastic revolution in Urdu poetry with his words. Ghalib felt so much proud of his Persian poetry but his Urdu poetry like "Ghazals" are also much famous today.

Ghalib started composing poetry at the age of 11. His first language was Urdu, but Persian and Turkish were also spoken at home. He got his education in Persian and Arabic at a young age.

Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan Ghalib died on February 15, 1869.

Source: APP