Nawabâ¯Faqirâ¯Muhammadâ¯Khanâ¯Goya (c.â¯1784â¯âÂÂâ¯c.â¯1850), was an Urdu poet, Writer, Military leader and Nawab of Malihabad from Malihabad in Awadh (presentâÂÂday Uttarâ¯Pradesh, India). Under his penâÂÂname Goya he produced Urdu poetry, and he was the founder of the Estate of Malihabad known as Tharri-Fatehnagar Commander-in-chief of Oudh State and also served as Governor of Azamgarh.
Faqirâ¯Muhammadâ¯Khan was born around 1784 to a Pashtun (Afridi) family with ancestral origins in the Khyberâ¯Pass region. His family later settled in the Malihabad region of Awadh. He mastered Urdu and Persian, although his mother tongue was Pashto. His family had a tradition of literary contributions and patronage of Urdu poetry.
He was granted noble titles such as HisÃÂm ud Daulah and TahvÃÂr Jang, and held the rank of Nawab. He served as a Risaldar (Regiment Comender) in the army of Awadh and later became the CommanderâÂÂinâÂÂChief of the Awadh Army. He is also recorded as having served under Yashwantraoâ¯Holkar of the Holkar Empire at Indore, and as a commander in Tonk State.
Goya was a prominent Urdu poet of the classical school influenced by Bakshâ¯Nasikh. His major works include:
Faqirâ¯Muhammadâ¯Khanâ¯Goya is credited with pioneering mango cultivation in Malihabad. He fell in love with the region's soil and climate and obtained permission to establish mango orchards there. He is credited with introducing and developing mango varieties including Jauhari Safeda, Lucknowa and others.
His estate in Malihabad became a hub for poetry and horticulture. He is an ancestor of later renowned Urdu poets, including Joshâ¯Malihabadi.
Faqirâ¯Muhammadâ¯Khanâ¯Goya is died around 1850 in Malihabad.