Google, as per its tradition of honouring iconic personalities, paid homage to one of Urdu literature?s most iconic poets Mirza Ghalib on his 220th birthday. 

 

KARACHI: Global search engine Google, as per its tradition of honouring iconic personalities, paid homage to one of Urdu literature?s most iconic poets Mirza Ghalib on his 220th birthday. 

Born in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, during the reign of Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah, Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan is known in popular culture by many names, but most commonly as Ghalib (meaning conqueror).

The poet showed a gift for language at an early age and was educated in Persian, Urdu, and Arabic, explains Google in its description. 

Early concepts of the Doodle. Photo: Google 

"His verse is characterized by a lingering sadness borne of a tumultuous and often tragic life ? from being orphaned at an early age, to losing all of his seven children in their infancy, to the political upheaval that surrounded the fall of Mughal rule in India. He struggled financially, never holding a regular paying job but instead depending on patronage from royalty and more affluent friends," according to Google. 

Ghalib navigated through these hardships with wit, intellect, and an all-encompassing love for life. 

His contributions to Urdu poetry and prose were not fully appreciated in his lifetime, but his legacy has come to be widely celebrated, most particularly for his mastery of the Urdu ghazal (amatory poem).

On September 21, Google doodle paid homage to legendary Pakistani singer Noor Jehan on the occasion of her 91st birth anniversary.

Google pays tribute to Noor Jehan on 91st birth anniversary

Jehan, who is also known as the ?Queen of Melody?, was born on this day in 1925 in Kasur

In a career spanning over decades, the legendary singer had reportedly recorded around 10,000 songs.

Jehan?s biggest claim to fame was her role in lending her voice to boost morale of Pakistani forces during the 1965 war ? for which she was awarded the top-most civilian award ?Tamgha-e-Imtiaz?.