Mushtaq-i Isfahani

Biography

Mushtaq Isfahani, Mir Sayyid ‘Ali (1689-1755/1756/1757), a poet with the nom de plume Mushtaq. A Mushtaq was a distinguished poet flourishing under the Nadir Shah Afshar. Born in Isfahan, he made poetical compositions in his youth. A follower of the Iraqi style of poetry, he was one of the founders of the literary restoration era. He taught poetical disciplines to his contemporary poets, like Azar Bigdili, Hatif Isfahani, and Sahba-yi Qumi. Having witnessed the decline in poetry and belles-lettres, he collaborated with some of his friends in founding a literary society in Isfahan, called Anjuman-i Mushtaq, which was attended by numerous poets. He industriously strove towards the transition of the Indian style to the Iraqi style. He died in his hometown and was laid to rest in the Takht-i Pulad Cemetery. His divan, running to 6,000 couplets, was posthumously collected by Hatif, Azar, and Sahba.

Asar-afarinan (5/ 240-241).