Noted poet and lyricist Rahat Indori died Tuesday. He was 70.
He had tested positive for coronavirus and was admitted in the ICU of a hospital in Madhya Pradesh's Indore city.
He was undergoing treatment at Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences.
"He suffered two heart attacks today and could not be saved. He was admitted to hospital on Sunday, after testing positive for Covid-19. He had 60% pneumonia," Dr Vinod Bhandari, Sri Aurobindo Hospital, told news agency ANI.
The teacher-turned-poet is survived by three sons and a daughter.
Famous Urdu poet Rahat Indori, whose powerful and lucid poetry filled halls and connected with the young and old alike, died of a heart attack at a hospital here on Tuesday while being treated for COVID-19, his son said.
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"He was admitted for coronavirus treatment but died after suffering a heart attack," son Satlaj Indori, also a poet, told PTI.
In the morning, the lyricist-poet tweeted about his COVID-19 diagnosis and said he will keep everyone updated through social media.
With a 50-year career in poetry, Indori, an Urdu scholar of great repute, was one of the biggest mushaira (poetry symposiums) stars in the country and someone who fearlessly called a spade a spade.
The wordsmith that he was, Indori translated the mood of the nation in his poetry that was emotive, direct and political.
Attacking religious divide and jingoism, Indori famously wrote, “Sabhi ka khoon shaamil hai yahan ki mitti mein, kisi ke baap ka Hindustan thodi hai” (Everone’s blood is mingled in this earth. Hindustan is no one’s property). The lines were used on posters and banners during the anti-CAA protests, pushing him to almost cult status.
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Indori was that rare poet who was easily connected with the young generation. In fact, his lines, delivered in a trademark expressive style, almost teasing as it were, were very popular with Tik-Tok users and those who did not even care or understand Urdu poetry.
Earlier this year, his poem "Bulati hai magar jane ka nahi" went viral on social media, making him a sensation among the youth. Memes using the poem's opening lines flooded social media during Valentine's Day.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi bid farewell to Indori Sahab" with a couplet -- “Ab na main hoon na baaki zamane mere. Fir bhi Shehron me mashhoor hain fasane mere” (Neither me nor my era exists, but my stories are still famous in the cities).
Historian and author Rana Safvi termed his death a "huge huge loss to a fearless voice and to the world of poetry".
Indori also wrote the lyrics of several songs, including "Chori Chori Jab Nazrein Mili" from “Kareeb”, "Koi jaye to le aye" from “Ghatak” (1996), and "Neend Churai Meri" from “Ishq”.
But his stint in cinema was brief and limited to a few films. Lyricist Swanand Kirkire, also from Indore like Indori, said he was “disappointed” in films.
