By Brij Khandelwal
Agra, Jan 23 (IANS): Agra will on Saturday celebrate the 275th birth anniversary of noted 18th century Urdu poet Nazeer Akbarabadi, popularly known as the "people's poet". This year, the anniversary falls on Basant Panchami - the first day of spring.

The modest tomb of Akbarabadi, who wrote on subjects of love and common man's life, is located just 100 metres away from Taj Mahal. It will be in focus Saturday as his admirers will queue up to pay him homage.

For most part of the year, Nazir's tomb in the Taj Ganj area lies in a neglected state. Only during Basant Panchami does it springs back to life as a 'mushaira', or poets' conclave, is held.

The Agra Municipal Corporation and the Agra Development Authority took the initiative to provide a canopy over the tomb and spruce up the area to attract tourists who visit the Taj Mahal.

It was Nazeer Akbarabadi who gave Agra a new identity through his poetry.

He wrote about things that touched the hearts of both Muslims and Hindus and these included festivals, dance and theatre, bird fights and kite-flying.

Nazir looked at the follies of royalty with disdain but sang lyrically about the antics of Lord Krishna and poked fun at the fundamentalists.

The staging of his "Agra Bazar" play made noted theatre personality Habib Tanvir famous.

Nazir also loved the Taj Mahal 'deeply' and there is a story that once he decided to leave Agra for greener pastures but returned after walking some distance when he lost sight of the monument.

He wrote about the frolics of Lord Krishna with as ease and passion as he wrote the follies of those in power.

While Mirza Ghalib shifted to Delhi, Nazeer Akbarabadi moved over to Agra for his love of the ordinary, the bhakti of Krishna and to be one with the masses.

"That is why he is called the jan kavi, people's poet," said Jitendra Raguhvanshi, general secretary of Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA).