Hasrat Mohani was born on 1 January 1875, in Mohani, a town in Unnao district of United Province in British India, Uttar Pradesh. His real name was Maulana Syed Fazl-ul-Hasan Mohani. He was a Romantic Poet of Urdu language, journalist, politician, parliamentarian and a fearless Indian freedom fighter.
In his early life, Maulana Hasrat Mohani was a brilliant and hardworking student as well as a topper in his first state level exams. Later, he studied in Aligarh Muslim University, where some of his colleagues were Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar and Maulana Shaukat Ali. His teachers in poetry were Tasleem Lucknawi and Naseem Dehlvi.
A few of his books are:-
1. Kulliyat-e-Hasrat Mohani which is a Collection of Hasrat Mohani's poetry.
2. Sharh-e-Kalam-e-Ghalib which is an Explanation of Ghalib's poetry.
3. Nukaat-e-Sukhan about Important aspects of poetry.
4. Mushahidaat-e-Zindaan on his Observations in Prison, etc.
A very popular ghazal "Chupke Chupke Raat Din" sung by Ghulam Ali, was penned by him.
"" Chupke chupke Raat din asu bhana yaad hai,
Humko Ab tak Ashiqui ka vo zamana yaad hai. ""
He was also featured in the film Nikaah of 1982. The famous slogan of Indian freedom fighters " Inquilab Zindabad !! " was coined by Hasrat Mohani himself.
In 1921, Ram Prasad Bismil attended Ahmedabad Congress along with many volunteers from Shahjahanpur and occupied a place on the Dias. A senior congressman Prem Krishna Khanna and revolutionary Ashfaqulla Khan was also with him. Bismil played an active role in the Congress with Maulana Hasrat Mohani and got the most debated proposal of Poorn Swaraj passed in the General board meeting of Congress. Mohandas K. Gandhi, who was not in the favour of this proposal became quite helpless before the overwhelming demand of youths. It was another victory of Bismil against the Liberal Group of Congress. He returned to Sh