Barkat Virani

Barkat Virani is a Gujarati author and poet, who was widely known for his Ghazals. Born Barkat Ali Ghulam Hussain Virani on 25th November 1923 in Ghanghali Village in Bhavnagar district, which is today a part of Gujarat. He completed his primary and secondary education from Bhavnagar, Gujarat and was interested in literature at the age of fourteen. He was taught by Qismat Quereshi. Barkat Virani is the son-in-Law of Harji Lavji Dhamani, a well-known Gujarati writer. At the time of Indian Independence, Barkat Virani joined the quit India Movement and left matriculation for it. He moved to Mumbai in 1945 as insisted by Shayda, his future Father-in-law. He married Ruqqaiya, Shayda’s eldest daughter in 1952. Barkat Virani is also associated with Gujarati cinema.

He wrote the lyrics of the film songs including Divadandi (1950), Akhad Soubhagyavati (1963), Snehabandhan, etc. and has also appeared in one movie, Mangalfera (1949). He has also written many short stories; stage plays and film songs. His Ghazal collections include Mansar (1960), Ghata (1970), Pyas (1980) and Parb. He has penned lyrics for Gujarati movies since 1960’s. Yet he continued to concentrate on Ghazals. He was also employed by the Akashvani Radio in Mumbai by Mareez, another Gujarati poet known for his Ghazals. Barkat Virani passed away on 2nd January 1994 in Mumbai.