Considered to be a major poet of humour and satire, Saghar khayyami was born on June 07, 1936 in a respectable family of Lucknow that nurtured a taste for literature and culture. Khayyami’s grandfather, Shair Lucknowi, and father, Zakir Lucknowi were poets of certain merit. He began with writing the traditional ghazal but soon switched over to his forte of humour and satire being influenced by his elder brother Nazir Khayyami who also wrote humorous and satirical poetry.
Saghar Khyyami received his early education in Arabic and Persian but came to learn English later. He worked at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, as a member of the non-teaching staff.
His collections of poems Under Craze, Pas-e-Roshni, Qahqahon ki Barat, Kucch Wahaan ke Liye were well received. His complete works were put together in Kulliyat-e-Saghar. He enjoys the unique distinction of blending humour with satire in a manner that many others have not been able to do as he did. While many of his poems entertain the readers but they also make them sad and sorrowful at times. He picks on the hypocrisy and hollowness of modern age and presents them with great precision and expertise. He has drawn upon Ghalib to compose some of his popular poems like Ghalib Apartment and Ghalib Dilli Mein. Khayyami is also known for his individual style of reading his poetry in mushairas. He passed away on June 19, 2008 in Mumbai.