Amir Khusro

Amir Khusrau and Nizamuddin Aulia, painting, Deccan, circa 1725.

Hazrat Amir Khusro was born in 1253 A.D. in Patiyala, India, He was a Sufi mystic and a spiritual disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi, and was a notable poet and musician of the 13th century. His paternal ancestors belonged to the nomadic tribe of Hazaras from Transoxiana, who crossed the river Indus and migrated to India in the thirteenth century. Khusro's father served the Sultan of Delhi, Shamsuddin Iltutmish, in a high position, and Amir Khusro was educated in theology, Persian and the Quran. From his mother who was of Hindustani origin and from his maternal grandfather he acquired both, an intimacy with the local languages as well as a rooting in the immediate cultural ambience. . Amir Khusro was a Hindustani Turk, born of a Turkish father. When his father died when Khusro was only eight he came under the care of his maternal grandfather. Amir Khusru is one of the iconic figures in the cultural history of the Indian subcontinent. He has been termed as the "father of qawwali" (the devotional music of the Sufis). He is also credited with enriching Hindustani classical music by introducing Persian and Arabic elements in it, and was the originator of the tarana style of music. The classical music tradition in both India and Pakistan traces its roots to poet and musician Amir Khusro, who composed the earliest ragas. The invention of the Indian table (percussion instrument) is usually attributed to Amir Khusro

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Muhammad Naseem Zia

Chhap tilak sab cheeni ray mosay naina milaikay Chhap tilak sab cheeni ray mosay naina milaikay Prem bhatee ka madhva pilaikay Matvali kar leeni ray mosay naina milaikay Gori gori bayyan, hari hari churiyan Bayyan pakar dhar leeni ray mosay naina milaikay Bal bal jaaon mein toray rang rajwa Apni see kar leeni ray mosay naina milaikay Khusrau Nijaam kay bal bal jayyiye Mohay Suhaagan keeni ray mosay naina milaikay Chhap tilak sab cheeni ray mosay naina milaikay Translation You've taken away my looks, my identity, by just a glance. By making me drink the wine of love-potion, You've intoxicated me by just a glance; My fair, delicate wrists with green bangles in them, Have been held tightly by you with just a glance. I give my life to you, Oh my cloth-dyer, You've dyed me in yourself, by just a glance. I give my whole life to you Oh, Nijam, You've made me your bride, by just a glance.

Ref: (http://allpoetry.com/poem/8541031-Chaap_Tilak_-by-Amir_Khusro) (http://sacred-songs.blogspot.com.au/2007/06/amir-khusro.html) 2|Page Muhammad Naseem Zia