The veteran Urdu poet Rahbar Jaunpuri hails from Uttar Pradesh but spent most of his literary life in Bhopal. His real name was Sheikh Minhaj Ansari. Born on June 2, 1939 in Mouza Jaigan, Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh, Rahbar Jaunpuri's early education and training took place in Jaunpur. He moved to Jaunpur, Bhopal, and in 1956 and joined the BHEL company located there and retired from the BHEL on a handsome pension for his services.

Rahbar Jaunpuri started writing poetry in 1953. A prominent member in the circle of students of the famous Urdu teacher Shafa Gwaliori. Among the important works of Rahbar Jaunpuri are Awaza-e-Zanjeer, Mauj-e-Sarab, Mata’-e-Fikr, Bolte Harf and Paigham-e-Haqq. In Paigham-e-Haqq, he has carefully chronologized the history of Islam. This work of his is among the masterpieces of Urdu literature. Rahbar Jaunpuri also brought to the fore the famous folk song "Alha" of Bundelkhand region of his homeland as he took it from the village chowpals and brought to the preserve of Urdu literature.

The ghazals of Rahbar Jaunpuri are also on par with his Nazms. He was also given an award by the President of the Republic in 1996, along with various organizations and institutions in recognition of his literary services. He passed away on December 3, 2020 in Lucknow.