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A Shayar (Poet who writes Sher in Urdu or Persian) almost always has a takhallus, a pen name. For example Mirza Asadullah Khan used 'Ghalib' as his 'takhallus' and is known by that name. Other examples are 'Daag' Dehlvi, 'Mir' Taqi Mir, Said 'Rahi', Ahmed 'Faraz' etc.
The maqta is the last Sher of a Ghazal and has the Shayar's 'thakhallus' used in it, often in very creative ways.
This last Sher of the Ghazal which has the Takhallus of the Shayar is the maqta of the Ghazal.
A Shayar, can use the 'Maqta' very intelligently. He can "talk to himself", "to somebody else", "refer to something" etc. For example Firaq Gorakhpuri has used it very wisely. Firaq is the takhallus of the poet and it also means "in search of" in the sense having a desire to meet someone.
Tu yeh na samajh ke Firaq teri Firaq mein hai
Firaq uski Firaq mein hai jo teri Firaq mein hai
Don't you think that Firaq pines for you (as in a desire to meet you)
Firaq pines for the one who pines for you (as Firaq wants to meet him first, who wants to meet you)
Here the poet, Firaq, plays on his nome de plume and the word firaq; the common theme in Urdu poetry of the state of pining for the beloved.
See also
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