Ustaad Imam Baksh Nasikh, a Well Noted Urdu Poet

Ustaad Imam Baksh Nasikh (Urdu: امام بخش ناسخ) (born 1776 - died 1838) was a famous and well noted Urdu poet of the 18th and 19th century.

Ustaad Imam Baksh Nasikh was born in Faizabad, India, which was ruled by the Mughals at the time. His poor father died early in his childhood. Afterwards, a wealthy merchant from Lahore, Khuda Buksh Kheema Doz, adopted him and gave him a good education, and Nasikh remained carefree in early period of his life. When his adoptive father died, his brothers tried to challenge the inheritance. An attempt was made to poison him unsuccessfully. Ultimately the inheritance issue went to court, and the court decided in favor of Nasikh.

Nasikh learned Persian with Hafiz Waris Ali and other learned scholars of Farangi Mahal, a quarter of Lucknow noted for its erudition and boasting of a noted academy of Persian and Arabic learning. He was not proficient in Arabic, but knew it enough for the Urdu poetry.

He learned poetry on his own, and was not known to be a pupil of any notable figure in poetry.

After Lucknow became the capital city of Oudh, Nasikh moved to the city, and spent the rest of his life there, in a neighourhood called Teksilla. It was reported that during Nasikh's learning years (when the well known Urdu poet of Lucknow, Mir Taqi Mir was alive), Nasikh once went to Mir for seeking his guidance in poetry. For some reason, Mir did not help him, and Nasikh returned broken-hearted. He vowed to perfect his skills in poetry with a new vigour, on his own.Nasikh was a great admirer of Mir Taqi Mir in whose praise he had said - Aap bey bahrah hai jo muataqid e Mir nahin meaning - " He who does not vow by Mir is himself not learned. "

He took the takhalus (تخلص or poetical name) of 'Nasikh', which implies that his splendor has eclipsed and abrogated that of all other poets.