Correct Option
Amir Khusrau (1253–1325 CE) is widely recognized as the first writer to extensively use a proto-Urdu form, often referred to as Hindavi or Rekhta, for poetic expression. A prominent Sufi poet, historian, and musician in the Delhi Sultanate, he blended Persian literary traditions with local vernaculars. His experimentation with a composite language, incorporating elements of Persian, Arabic, Turkish, and local Indian dialects, laid the foundational groundwork for the evolution of Urdu as a distinct literary language.
Incorrect Options
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Mirza Ghalib (1797–1869): He was a prominent poet who significantly refined and enriched Urdu poetry during the later Mughal period, but he did not originate its use as a medium of poetic expression.
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Bahadur Shah Zafar (1775–1862): The last Mughal emperor, he was known for his Urdu ghazals. However, his contributions occurred much after the initial development and use of Urdu for poetic expression.
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Faiz Ahmed Faiz (1911–1984): A distinguished 20th-century Urdu poet, his work belongs to a much later phase of Urdu literature and is far removed from its origins.