5 Contemporary Homegrown Poets Keeping The Art Of Urdu Shayari Alive

Growing up, I remember my nani and nanu often reminiscing about Lahore, the home they left behind after Partition. They would sit together in the evenings, reading and writing in Urdu, the language that carried their memories. Shayari was a constant presence in their lives, a form of expression that seemed to bridge the gap between their past and present. For them, shayari was never elitist — it was for everyone. It wasn’t confined to scholars or poets, but shared, a way to connect with each other, and with the life they once knew.

I can still hear the soft murmur of my grandfather reciting a ghazal, my grandmother nodding along as if each word carried a world of meaning between them. In those moments, shayari became more than poetry — a way for them to stay tethered to the Lahore they had left behind. For my grandparents, shayari was as much a part of daily life as rajma-chawal. It made sense of their emotions and gave shape to the things they could not say out loud.

This art form was never exclusionary. It was shared at family gatherings, written in the margins of books, and scribbled on scrap paper. It brought people together, whether it was in the grand halls of Lahore or the small living rooms of their new home in Chandigarh. Shayari wasn’t just about longing for love or the past, it was about the connection to a place, to people, to an identity. 

Shayari — delicate threads of poetry, ghazal, and nazm — is the language of ishq, mohabbat, and dard, of love that aches, and pain that speaks. Today, the magic of language is often reduced to memes and one-liners. Yet, there are poets who refuse to let this fire die out. Poets who still believe in the power of jazbaat (emotion). This isn’t about rhyming words or clever lines — it’s about creating anqahi (unsaid) moments in a world that feels increasingly disconnected. Here’s a look at five poets who are not just writing shayari, but living it, crafting it, and sharing it with a world that needs it more than ever.

Gautam Rajrishi lives between two worlds—the structured life of a soldier and the dreamy world of poetry. His shayari mirrors this duality, balancing the rigidity of discipline with the softness of yearning. His words, like rukhsar ka narm ehsaas (the soft touch of a cheek), invite you to linger in their warmth. Rajrishi’s poetry is both the battlefield and the refuge, where duty meets the tenderness of the human heart.

The elegance of Tehzeeb Haafi’s name is reflected in his poetry. He writes with tehzeeb (refinement), capturing the subtleties of human emotion with an artistry that feels effortless. His verses explore themes of lost love, afsaane (unspoken stories), and the spaces between words. Haafi’s leaves behind an imprint long after you’ve read the last line. In a world that rushes by, his shayari reminds us to pause, to feel, to let the silence speak.

Zubair Ali Tabish’s poetry is anything but quiet. His verses roar with passion and defiance, embracing the junoon (madness) that fuels the soul. Tabish’s work often questions identity and individuality, challenging the reader to confront uncomfortable truths. His words bite, sting, and heal all at once, making you feel alive in their wake. On Instagram, Tabish’s feed is like an arena where words wrestle with emotions. His shayari is a storm, unrelenting and exhilarating.

Ali Zaryoun’s poetry feels like a spiritual journey. His words are imbued with a sense of sukoon, drawing you into a meditative space. His shayari is reflective and nuanced, offering moments of stillness in a chaotic world. Reading Zaryoun is like discovering ancient truths hidden in plain sight, reminding us that the simplest words often carry the most profound meanings.

Qamar Abbas Qamar’s shayari is infused with gham, but not the kind that drags you down. His verses hold the heavy truths of life but are softened by their elegance. Qamar’s poetry stirs up memories, brings relief, and offers healing. His words don’t scream for attention, they command it quietly. Qamar’s shayari is a balm, speaking to us who have lived, lost, and survived.

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