Mirza Mohammad rafi 'Sauda' , (1713–1781) was an Urdu poet in Delhi, India. He is known for his Ghazals and Urdu Qasidas.

Biography

He was born in 1713 in Shahjahanabad (i.e. Old Delhi), where he was also brought up. At the age of 60 or 66, he moved to Farrukhabad (with Nawab Bangash), and lived there from 1757 to about 1770. In A.H. 1185 (1771–72) he moved to the court of Nawab of Awadh (then in Faizabad) and remained there until his death. When Lucknow became the state capital, he came there with Nawab Shujauddaula''. He died in A.H. 1195 (1780–81) in Lucknow.

Ustads and shagirds

Sulaimān Qulī Ḳhān 'Vidād' and Shaikh Zahuruddin Hatim were his Ustads (teachers of Urdu poetry). King Shah Alam was Shagird (student of Urdu poetry) of Sauda. He was also Ustad of Shujauddaulla. Nawab Āṣif ud-Daulah gave him title of Malkushshu'ara and annual pension of Rs 6,000.

Works

Initially he composed in Persian, but switched to Urdu on the advice of his ustad, Ḳhān-e Ārzū. His work was translated in 1872 by Major Henry Court, Captain, Bengal Cavalry. Kulliyat of Sauda was compiled by Ḥakīm Sayyid Aṣlaḥ. ud-Dīn Ḳhān wrote the introduction. Sauda's works from his Kulliyat are: