Legendary Urdu Poet Bashir Badr passes away at 91, Literary World mourns a huge loss
Babushahi Bureau
Meerut (Uttar Pradesh), May 28, 2026 — Renowned Urdu poet and Padma Shri awardee Dr. Bashir Badr passed away on Thursday after a prolonged illness, leaving the literary world in deep mourning. He was 91.
The heartbreaking news of his demise was shared by his wife, Rahat Badr, through an emotional social media post that read, “Bashir Sahib has left us... Prayers.”
Widely regarded as one of the finest voices of modern Urdu ghazal, Dr. Bashir Badr touched millions of hearts with his soulful, simple and deeply emotional poetry. His passing has triggered an outpouring of grief from writers, poets, artists and admirers across the country and abroad.
In recognition of his immense contribution to literature, the Government of India had honoured him with the prestigious Padma Shri award.
Born on February 15, 1935, in Ayodhya, Dr. Bashir Badr pursued higher education at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), where he later completed his PhD and also served as a professor in the Urdu department.
Known for blending profound emotions with simple and accessible language, Bashir Badr introduced a fresh modern sensibility to traditional Urdu ghazals. His poetry resonated with readers of all generations and earned him an unmatched place in the world of Urdu literature.
However, due to deteriorating health, he had remained away from poetry gatherings and mushairas for several years.
Dr. Bashir Badr’s life also witnessed immense personal tragedy. During the communal riots in Meerut in 1987, his house was burnt down by miscreants, destroying several priceless literary manuscripts, diaries and poems collected over decades. The incident deeply affected him, after which he permanently moved from Meerut to Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
His association with Meerut College also remained significant. On August 12, 1974, he joined the institution as a lecturer in the Urdu department. By then, he had already become a celebrated name in the world of poetry, admired far beyond academic circles.
With the passing of Dr. Bashir Badr, an era of Urdu poetry has come to an end, but his timeless ghazals and words will continue to live on in the hearts of literature lovers forever.