Nawab Mustafa Khan Shefta information

Nawab Mustafa Khan "Shefta" (1809–1869) was an Urdu poet and critic, and a contemporary of Mirza Ghalib. "Shefta" was his Urdu "takhallus" or pen name (he used the name "Hasrati" for his Farsi writings).

Born in Delhi, he belonged to a prominent landowning family of Bangash Hindustani Pathans.^[1] His kinsmen included the Nawabs of Farrukhabad and the rebel Walidad Khan of Barabasti. His father-in-law was the famous General Ismail Beg Hamadani.^[2] His estates included the jagir of Palwal in Gurgaon and Jehangirabad in Meerut.^[3]

Mustafa Khan's early education was received from famous teachers such as Mian ji Maal Maal, and Haji Mohammed Nur Naqshbandi. He began composing poetry when he was a teenager, and eventually became known as a prominent member of the Delhi literary circle that included Ghalib, Zauq and Momin. He was particularly close to Ghalib, and stood by him as a friend and patron, helping him out in times of need and visiting him in prison when he was in trouble with the authorities. His home was well known as a venue of musha'airas and as a centre of poetic activity and patronage.

After the 1857 Rebellion, Mutiny Shefta was arrested by the British on suspicion of involvement with the rebels, due to his close ties to Bahadur Shah Zafar and relationship with Walidad Khan and Ismail Beg. He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment and his estates were seized, only half of which were later restored on appeal. The prison in which he was held was later purchased by his son Nawab Ishaq Khan who inherited his title and estates, and the historic family home Mustafa Castle was constructed on the site, integrating the original prison room in the design.

Mustafa Khan died in 1869 at his house in Kucha Chelaan in Delhi. He is buried at his family graveyard at Hazrat Nizamuddin.

His son Nawab Ishaq Khan was a leading figure in the Aligarh movement, and his grandson was Nawab Mohammad Ismail Khan, the famous Muslim League politician and signatory to the first Indian Constitution.