Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib, born on 27 December 1797, and died on 15 February 1869, was a renowned Indian poet. Commonly known as Mirza Ghalib, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets in the Urdu language. Ghalib also produced a significant body of work in Persian.

His poetry often addresses themes of existential struggle, sorrows, and socio-political disturbances, particularly reflecting on the decline of the Mughal Empire. Despite spending most of his life in poverty, Ghalib's work continues to be celebrated for its depth and beauty.

Although his Persian Divan (body of work) is at least five times longer than his Urdu Divan, his fame primarily rests on his poetry in Urdu. He remains immensely popular not only in the Indian subcontinent but also among the Hindustani diaspora around the world.

During his lifetime, the Mughals were eclipsed and finally deposed by the British following the defeat of the Indian Revolt of 1857, events that Ghalib poignantly captured in his writings. Most notably, he composed several ghazals during his life, which have since been interpreted and sung in many different ways by various artists. In South Asia, he is celebrated as one of the most influential poets of the Urdu language.