The Key

Here is the key to know their names and brief overview of their contributions to Urdu Literature.

1. Muneer Niazi: A great contemporary Urdu poet who passed away in recent years. He is famous for his beautiful diction and highly imaginative poetry.
2. Maulvi Abdul Haq: Called Baba-e-Urdu (Father of Urdu), Maulvi Abdul Haq spent his whole life working for Urdu cause. He had a great command on Urdu linguistics and had a great style in writing biographies and essays.
3. Parveen Shakir: Considered greatest female Urdu poetess by many, Parveen Shakir died early like many English Romantic poets. She was among firsts who wrote poetry with keeping their femininity intact.
4. Prem Chand: Prem Chand (real name: Dhanpat Rai) is among the pioneers of short story (afsaana) writers in Urdu. His legacy is the subjects of common man on which he constructed his stories. No one can deny his position in the domain of Urdu Afsaana.
5. Wasif Ali Wasif: Wasif was a beautiful essayist. He was a mystic. He wrote several books on Tassawuf which reach our hearts and souls.
6. Mir Taqi Mir: Considered by many the greatest Ghazal writer, Mir is a symbol of classic Urdu poetry. His poetry is simple but has an everlasting impact. He is called Khuda-e-Sukhun (God of poetry).
7. Altaf Hussain Haali:The services Haali did to Urdu can be matched by few. He was a poet and a writer. He changed the scope of poetry and started using poetry to discuss social issues rather than traditional love themes. He was a great critic and essayist.
8. Firaaq Gorakhpuri: Firaaq (real name: Raghupati Suhai) is a very influential poet of 20th century. His ghazals influenced all generations which came after him.
9. Saahir Ludhianvi: Saahir's name is among greatest poets who remained in India after partition. His poetry is rebel against existing norms. He could be compared with Faiz as both write about same themes generally.
10. Saadat Hasan Manto: Very famous and very controversial Manto took afsaana to new heights after the era of Prem Chand. He was criticized for vulgar themes he portrayed in some of his stories.
11. Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi: Famous as both poet and short story writer, Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi is a very respected literary figure among those who ruled literature after the partition.
12. Ismat Chughtai: Like Manto, Ismat was also highly criticized for propagating vulgar themes. She was a committed member of Taraqi Pasand Tehreek, a literary movement initiated to revolt against established norms and status quo.
13. Mirza Ghalib: Ghalib is considered the greatest Urdu poet though his most poetry is in Persian. The ideas he gave and the expressions he chose are still unparallel to anyone in literature.
14. Allama Iqbal: With Ghalib, Iqbal enjoys the greatest respect and fame among all other poets. His poetry is philosophical, highly rich in diction and purposeful.
15. Bano Qudsia: Wife of Ashfaq Ahmed, Bano is a famous contemporary novelist and story-writer. She excels in exploring complex psychological processes behind our behavious.
16. Ahmed Faraz: Disciple of Faiz in many respects, Faraz was a great poet with beautiful diction. He was excellent in writing both, romantic and rebellious verses. His style became the benchmark and new poets started saying verses in his diction.
17. Asrar-ul-Haq Majaz: Majaz was a taraqi pasand poet who died early. His choice of words and imagery have become standards in poetry.
18. Syed Sajjad Zaheer: One of the pioneers of Taraqi Pasand Tehreek, Sajjad Zaheer tried to bring western techniques in poetry, criticism and short stories. He viewed literature not only as a tool to satisfy aesthetic needs, but as a weapon to destroy capitalism.
19. Maulana Shibli Nomani: Shibli was contemporary of Sir Syed and Haali. He contributed with them in changing the paradigms of Urdu prose. He was among firsts to write history, Islamic themes and biographies in Urdu.
20. Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi: Yousufi is considered as one of the greatest humour writers. His humour is highly intellectual. He established new standards for writing humour.
21. Akbar Ilahabadi: Akbar is among pioneers of humorous poetry in Urdu. His humorous verses are still considered benchmark.
22. Qurat-ul-Ain Haider: Called Virginia Woolf of Urdu, Qurat-ul-Ain Haider was a navelist par excellence. Her novel "Aag Ka Daria" is considered greatest Urdu novel by many critics.
23. Fehmida Riaz: She is a very famous contemporary Urdu poetess. She is a rebellious poetess raising feminine causes and protesting against unjust social norms in her poems.
24. Faiz Ahmed Faiz: An unforgettable voice of Urdu poetry, Faiz introduced new styles and ways of expression in poetry. He is considered among greatest poets who lived in Pakistan.
25. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan: Sir Syed is the founder of modern Urdu prose, essays and journalism. He shifted the prose from imaginative stories of fairies and devils to the essays concerning issues of masses.
26. Hafeez Jalindhary: Hafeez enjoys great respect being the poet of the anthem of Pakistan. He made great innovations in Nazam particularly Geet.
27. Nawab Mirza Khan Daagh: Daagh is one of the last classic poets. He is highly distinguished among classic poets because of his unique, direct and satirical expressions.
28. Mir Anees: Anees is the greatest Marsia writer of Urdu. He was master of words.
29. Ibn-e-Insha: Ibn-e-Insha (real name: Sher Muhammad Khan) occupies important position in Urdu history because of his remarkable achievements as a poet, Safarnama Nigar, humour writer and translater.
30. Gopi Chand Narang: He is the great writer and critic. He is among those who are raising the cause of Urdu in India.
31. Ashfaq Ahmed: Ashfaq Ahmed is a renowned short story writer. His short stories and dramas are very deep and profound in their treatment of human psyche.