Zaigham

Hafiz Ikram Ahmad , or simply known by his pen name Zaigham , was a 19th-century teacher and alchemist based in Bengal. He became prominent due to his talent in Urdu and Persian language poetry, specialising in ghazal and marsiya in Rekhta.

Early life and education It is considered that Ikram was born in Rampur, Agra Presidency, while others suggest he was born in Delhi but from Rampur. His name is often preceded with the title of Hafiz, a term used by Muslims for people who have completely memorised the Qur'an.

Career

Az adad-e-madah do ta kam rasid

Har che bud qismat-e-Zaigham rasid|source=Last line of a 50-line Persian qasida by Zaigham

He was also a teacher to a number of students to whom he taught Urdu poetry. Some include Nassakh, Hafiz Rashidun Nabi Wahshat, Mahmud Azad, Hakim Ashraf Ali Mast, Hamid Bakht Mazumdar, Arman and Khwaja Abdul Ghaffar Akhtar. He was also a tutor to the family of Nawab Syed Mahmud. It has also been said that Shaykh Haji Ilahi Bakhsh Bijan Siddiqi of Danapur was a student of Zaigham.