MIR SOZ: of Bokhari ancestry, had to leave his country in time of peril
in the dress of a fakir: came to Lucknow, where he became tutor
to the Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula.

MIR TAQI: born at Agra, in his later days lived at Lucknow, under the
protection of the Nawab of Oudh: wrote many kinds of verse, but excelled
in the ghazal and the masnawi, and was the author of a biography of
poets: wrote his own autobiography in Persian, and also Persian poetry.

MOMIN: of Delhi: author of six long masnawis: skilled in medicine,
astronomy and astrology, and deeply read in poetry: at first lived
a gay and reckless life, in his old age gave himself to prayer and
fasting, and acquired great contemporary fame: his work is considered
to be the most delicate flower of Urdu expression.

MUSHAFI: belonged to a distinguished family of Amroha: lived at first
at Lucknow, then went to Delhi: there he held famous literary reunions,
at which gathered many poets of whom he was the inspirer and teacher.

MUZTAR: born and educated at Lucknow: his ancestors occupied an
honourable rank at Delhi: was a pupil of Mushafi.

NASIKH: of Calcutta: belonged to the latter half of the 19th century:
Deputy Magistrate and Member of the Legislative Council of Bengal.

SAUDA: born at Delhi about 1720: a soldier by profession: much esteemed
in his lifetime, and was a favourite at Court: excelled in all kinds
of poetry, chiefly the ghazal, the qasidah, and satire.