Meeraji’s name instantly calls to mind his distinct picture with braided hair, oversized ear-rings, thick moustache, and a gaze looking somewhere far out. But did you know that it is not a real picture of Meeraji but actually of him playing the role of Sadhu in a movie. Though it’s true that he took the name Meeraji after falling in love with a girl named Mira Sen and had taken up a similarly strange appearance carrying iron balls in his hands.

But this mendicant-poet wasn't a psychiatric one. By the age of 37, he left behind him a lifetime’s work, even though he did not even pass high school.. His Kulliyat included 223 Nazms, 136 Geet, 17 Ghazals, 22 versified translations, 5 parodies and miscellaneous articles. He also translated an ancient Sanskrit book in the form of ‘Nigar-Khaana’. He also had a keen eye on the English language and literature. His book titled “Mashriq Aur Maghrib ke Naghme” included articles and selected poem-translations from poets of Greek, French, German, English, American, Japanese, Chinese, Roman, Russian languages.

The European writer, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2008, said in an interview, “Much more deserving of this literary award were some other writers, such as the Indian writer, Qurratulain Haider."
This famous writer of ours, also known as "Aini Aapa", said in one of her interviews, “Taaziyo.n, Piiro.n, Faqiron aur dar-gaahon, aur raam-leelaon ka culture humara asl culture hai, aur baDii ne’mat hai, aur ise hargiz hargiz miTne nahin dena chahiye. Na ye bid’at hai na auhaam-parasti, na shirk, na but-parasti, ye mahz humaare awaam kaa tahziibi sar-maaya hai”.
The gist, our diverse traditions constitue our real culture, not our sectarian limits.
Her famous novel “Aag Ka Dariya”, is based on the 2500-year history of the subcontinent, which she herself translated into English.
Did you know that she was greatly devoted towards Hazrat Sultan Muhammad Arif Ali Shah, a spiritual figure of Majhgwan Sharif, Bara Banki. She has alluded to him quite interestingly as 'Miyan Sahib' in her novel 'Gardesh-e-Rang Chaman'.

Rahat Indori is considered by many as the uncrowned king of Mushaira. Born Rahat Quraishi, in 1950, Rahat Indori also made his birthplace Indore all the more memorable. He began writing poetry in 1968, and through his unique style of recitation and heartrending Ghazals, became an indispensable part of the Mushairas. Although he was also a Ph.D. holder, a lecturer, and an extremely learned figure, his fame largely rested upon his Qalandar-like magnetism which became a voice to the emotions of the common people. Succinctly, the truthful and incisive conscience of this poet seldom thought of any diligence to be important. Rahat was also a painter, and this talent of his was also manifest in his poetry, as it filled the canvas of his words with beautiful colors. His actual personality was also truly harmonious to his bobbing style of recitation, a style that was simply inimitable.