Famous Urdu poet Bashir Badr passes away in Bhopal

By  News On Air   May 28, 2026

A great voice of Urdu literature has fallen silent forever. Famous poet and literary figure Bashir Badr passed away today in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. He was 91 years old. According to his family, he breathed his last at around 12 noon. He was laid to rest at a cemetery near Bhopal Talkies this evening.

Bashir Badr had been suffering from dementia for a long time. His health had been declining steadily. In his final days, he was unable to recognise people around him.

He received the Padma Shri award in 1999 for his contribution towards literature and the Sangeet Natak Akademi. He also received the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu for his poetry collection “Aas” in 1999.

Bashir Badr gave Urdu poetry a new identity. He wrote in simple, everyday language. His style was different from that of traditional poets. His ghazals spoke of love, loneliness, relationships and daily life. Many of his couplets are still recited at mushairas and shared widely on social media. 

He completed his post-graduation from Aligarh Muslim University, and later he joined Meerut College as a lecturer in the Urdu department. He taught there until 1990. This period is considered the most important phase of his poetic journey. During this time, he gained recognition both in India and abroad.