The poet who gave the most sustaining of slogans, 'Inquilab Zindabad' was a journalist, scholar and Independence activist. More famous today for his romantic elegy `Chupke chupke raat din'--made all the more popular when it was rendered by ghazal singer

and incorporated in B R Chopra's phenomenally successful Hindi film 'Nikaah' in the early 1980s--Maulana Hasrat Mohani, born in Unnao district on January 1, 1875, did a lot to inspire youth to dedicate themselves to the service of the nation. When he met

Mahatma Gandhi

, the latter asked Mohani, “What is your challenge to the British?“ and the poet replied, “Inquilab Zindabad (long live revolution)“. Gandhi smiled and advised him “Paani mein qadam rakhne se pehle, gehrai naap lena (before you step into the water, do check its depth)“.

In May 1904, he first par ticipated as a delegate in the Indian National Congress. In May 1905, Maulana Hasrat Mohani became a big name in journalism staand turned to poli ple-tics. Historian and their general secretary ended to get of the Aligarh Muslim University's platform Old Boys' site the

, Shakeel Ahmad Qidwai shared with TOI several insights into the life, time and work of the poet, who was also known as Maulana Mohani. Qidwai said, “Mohani was arrested for satyagrah (silent protest). He told the police, 'Why should I help you in arresting me? I will not come with you and if you need, you may carry me with you'. Such was the tone he set for the freedom movement.“ He joined the All India Conference and started supporting the Swadeshi movement but later he quit the Congress.

After his release from jail, he devoted a part of his life to a magazine and published many articles inspiring patriotism. He was imprisoned in 1908 for publishing an article which was against Brit ish. Mohani wrote many ghazals promoting

His real name was

and he topped the state level secondary education exam. Before his death on May 13, 1951, Mohani saw Lucknow as the only place after AMU where he saw the perfect scenario of HinduMuslim unity . Qidwai said Mohani's favourite subject for poetry was the freedom struggle or Lord Krishna. He used to visit Mathura every year on Janamashtmi.

One of the most famous couplets recited in Krishna temples of Mathura till date is 'Mohe pyare Kanhaiya rajat hain, Mohe Braj bhai bahasa nagri' and it was penned by Mohani, who loved to call Krishna 'Sargaroh-eAashiqan (role model of lovers)'. He wrote many poems on Krishna during his visit to Lucknow in 1920. Whenever he came to the city , he stayed in

, in Old Lucknow. Among his native places, he named Lucknow, Kanpur and Aligarh.