Gauhar Raza is an Indian scientist by profession, and a leading Urdu poet, social activist and documentary filmmaker working to popularize the understanding of science among general public, known for his films like Jung-e-Azadi, on the India's First War of Independence, and Inqilab (2008) on Bhagat Singh. He was also the honorary director of Jahangirabad Media Institute.

Born in a left liberal family in Allahabad, His family shifted to Aligarh in 1958. His father, Wizarat Husain (1919 to 2007) was a freedom fighter, a communist party member and a renowned educationist and science teacher in Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. His mother, a social worker, was also intensely involved in freedom struggle and had worked with Indira Gandhi in Allahabad.

He completed B.Sc. Engineering from Aligarh Muslim University, in 1977 and M. Tech. (Power Apparatus and Systems) from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi1979.

Gauhar Raza's poetry collection Jazbon Ki Lau Tez Karon has been noticed for the frankness of tone and for the social concerns that they take up and treat sensitively. In his most famous poem "Main Chahta hoon"(I like to), he express his helplessness to write a romantic poem in the days of darkness. He also wrote lyrics for a Hindi film Say Salaam India released in 2007.