Shaikh Imdad Ali, known by his takhallus Bahr, was born in Lucknow around 1810. He was a disciple of Nasikh and dedicated his entire life to the pursuit of knowledge despite facing numerous hardships and difficulties. He possessed a remarkable command of language, excelling in precision of expression, linguistic research, and the art of presentation.

Nawab Kalb Ali Khan, upon learning of his linguistic prowess, invited him to Rampur and offered him a respectable salary as a mark of honor. He resided in Rampur for a period before eventually returning to his hometown. In Lucknow, he relied on a small stipend provided by the daughter of the late Nawab Amjad Ali Shah for sustenance. Unfortunately, like many of his contemporaries, he indulged in the habit of opium, which was prevalent among the nobility of that era. He passed away in Lucknow in 1878.

Despite his literary talents, he was unable to compile his Diwan during his lifetime due to his disposition. However, after his demise, his friend Syed Muhammad Khan Rand undertook the task of compiling his Diwan. One of his notable works, "Bahrul Bayan," focuses on the rules of the Urdu language. The only known manuscript of this work is preserved in the Raza Library, Rampur, and has been compiled and published by Rashid Hasan Khan.