Fani Badayuni was one of the most celebrated poets from Badayun in Uttar Pradesh. He is known for his pessimism and melancholic composition on the tragic sides of the existence:
हर नफ़स आह और अन्फ़ास पे जिने का मदार
ज़िन्दगी आहे मुसलसल के सिवा कुछ भी नही
(We are forced to make sighs very moment
Life is nothing but perennial sighs and grieves).
An insight into his personal life may lead to some factors contributed in his expressing sorrowful strains and notes in his creative callings.
Fani Badayuni had been betrothed to his first cousin sister, daughter of his elder uncle, Vilayat Ali Khan. They loved each other. When our melancholic bard passed Intermediate Examination, he was insisted upon to tie the knot, but he protested postponing it until he becomes a graduate. Unfortunately, his fiancée was married to another man meanwhile because of some family disputes and differences. Fani Badayuni came back happily with good tiding, but alas! He found she was no more. This shock proved to be lasting and devastating for him and lingered in his entire life. He was not willing to bring any woman in his life, however, he had to surrender to the demand of his parents, relatives and others to accept his partner in life, so his father solemnized his nikah in October, 1902 with his near relative Munshi Intezar Ali Khan’s daughter, Malika Zamani Begum. Her father was Zamindar and Rais of the town, Ekri in Budaun.
The couple blessed with two sons and one daughter. Saadat Ali Khan alias Feroz Qadr was born in 1903, Wajahat Ali Khan alias Humayun Qadr in 2006 and Salima Zamani Begum in 1908.
As per Babu Liyaqat Husain Khan, Fani was so happy and delighted upon the birth of his first son that he got purchased the branded clothes sending someone to Hazratganj in Lucknow and he performed the ritual of Aqiqa splendidly.
Fani Badayuni tried his best to provide good education and training to both of his sons appointing the teachers on exuberant remuneration of Rs 25 to 30 per month, but these boys were destined not to be educated person so he gave up hope and the boys remained without having any degree. (Hamid Siddiqui)
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