Amir Khusro

Abul Hasan Yamin-ud-Din Khusro (1253-1325) popularily known as Amir Khusro was an Indian musician, scholar and poet. He was a Sufi mystic and a spiritual disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi. He wrote poetry in Persian and Hindavi. He is regarded as the ‘father of qawwali’. He enriched Hindustani classical music by introducing Persian and Arabic elements in it. He was the originator of the khayal and tarana styles of music. He also invented tabla. His verse forms include Ghazal, Masnavi, Qata, Rubai, Do-Beti and Tarkibhand. His main poetical works are Tuhfa-tus-Sighr, Wastul-Hayat, Ghurratul-Kamaal,Nihayatul-Kamaal, Mathnavi Noh Sepeh etc. Khusro's Hindavi Poetry {pahelis (riddles), dohas (couplets) and geets (songs)} seem to have been orally transferred from generation to generation by Qawwals, mirasees (professional singers), bhands (stage performers) and women-folk.