Biography
Shaukat Ali Khan Fani Badayuni (Urdu: ???? ??? ??? ???? ???????) was noted Urdu poet.
Early Life and Education
Shaukat Ali Khan was born in Islamnagar, Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, (then United Provinces). He graduated from Barreilly College in 1901, studied law at Aligarh Muslim University, earning his L.L.B.degree in 1906. He practiced law in Bareilly and Lucknow but could not make much success and migrated to Hyderabad.
Literary Life
The Nizam's Diwan Maharaja Kishan Prasad 'Shad' who himself was an Urdu lover and poet, got Fani appointed in the department of Education. Fani started composing poetry around twenty years of age. He translated works of Shakespeare and Milton in Urdu. Fani belonged to the Ghalib's tradition of Urdu poetry. It will be more appropriate to place Fani in the category of what is known in Urdu as Sahib-e-gham because he was a poet of pathos. This tradition in Urdu poetry is headed by Mir Taqi Mir, hence he belongs to Mir's tradition as well.
Fani in Moazzam Jah's Court
Fani was associated with the Junior Prince Moazzam Jah nocturnal court throughout his life in Hyderabad. With him in the court were Josh Malihabadi,Sadiq Jaisi, Maher Ul Quadri and others.
Personal Life
Fani was a highly emotional persoanl he loved Hyderabad and the society. He was initially offered to join as a "munsif" (Judge)since he was a Law Graduate. But Fani did not accept it since he had to move away from the city. He later accepted the post of a school head master in Hyderabad. In the day fani would go to school and in night would attend Moazzam Jah's court till early hours, this night outs did not give him enough time to continue at school as head master, he could complete sleep at the office chair. News spread and he was removed from the post.
A detailed account of Fani's personal life can be found in the book "Durbaar-e-Durbaar" by Sadq Jaisi in Urdu and in English translation of the same book by Narendera Luther "The Nocturnal Court". ..
