Saghar Nizami(1905–1983)[1] (Urdu: ساغر نظامی ) or Samdayaar Khan was a renowned Urdu ghazal and nazm writer. He was one of the earliest disciples of Seemab Akbarabadi (1882–1951). He was a recipient of the Padma Bhushan Award and the 1982 Ghalib Award.
He was very closely associated with Seemab Akbarabadi. From 1923 to 1932 he remained the Editor of “ Paimana ”, a Monthly magazine published by his Ustad from Agra where after in 1933 he shifted to Meerut and founded Adabi Markaz, a publishing-house that in its very first year of operation had introduced Mehr Lal Soni Zia Fatehabadi (1913–1986) to the Urdu literary world by publishing latter’s first collection of poems – “ Tullu ” (Dawn). Years later, Yusuf Hussain, Editor, Nairang e Khayal, Lahore, was to class Ahsan Danish, Saghar Nizami and Mehr Lal Soni Zia Fatehabadi as the three bright stars (of Urdu poetry) of the modern era.[2]
Saghar Nizami's complete works “ Kuliat e Saghar Nizami ” in three volumes was published by Modern Publishing House, Delhi in 1999 - 2001.
Saghar’s vibrant personality and mature thinking lent a dynamic individuality to his verse and expression; by nature he was an extrovert and a born showman. Whereas the diction of both, the master as well as that of the disciple, is more or less the same, Seemab’s thoughts are enshrined in solemn and sublime chastity while Saghar’s poetry abounds in playful experience and youthful vision.[3]
Just as Kundan Lal Saigal had done for Seemab Akbarabadi so did Master Madan (1923–1942)[4] by singing a) Yoon na reh reh kar hamen tersaaiye and b) Hairat se tak raha hai jahan e wafa mujhe, the two ghazals written by Saghar Nizami, made Saghar Nizami immortal; the music for these ghazals was composed by Pandit Amarnath.[5]