- Source: Chhannu Lal Dilgeer
Chhannu Lal Dilgeer, a marsiya poet of Urdu, was born about 1780 at Lucknow, British India in the current Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, and died in 1848. He used Dilgeer as his pseudonym.
Early life and family
He was born in a Hindu family and was the brother of Raja Jhaulal, the deputy prime minister of Nawab Asaf-Ud-Daula of Lucknow.
Works
He converted to Islam and changed his name to Ghulam Hussain. His compositions describe occurrences involving Muhammad and his family. He did not recite marsiyas due to a speech impairment.
"Ghabraye Gi Zainab" is a well-known marasia written by Chhannu Lal Dilgeer that describes the arrival of Zainab, daughter of Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law Ali, after practically all of her male relations had been slain.
During Ghazi-ud Din Haider's reign, he was a well-known Marsiyan poet. Nawab Mohammad Ali Shah rewarded him with 400 rupees for writing a Masnavi in favor of Hussainabad.