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Ghalib: The Man, The Times is a biography of the noted Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib. The book gives the reader a glimpse into the life and times of the legendary poet. Summary Of The Book Ghalib: The Man, The Times talks about the life and times of Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan, the 19th century poet popularly known as Mirza Ghalib, particularly during the period between the shifting of power from the hands of the Mughals to that of the Britishers in India. Though he lived through these turbulent times witnessing the deaths of his friends and the changes in Delhi, he was a miserable man and wished to die. He left behind a number of detailed records of the events that transpired during this difficult period, after his death on 15th February 1869. Ghalib started writing poetry when he was nine. His works were noticed by one of the eminent poets of that time, Mir, who predicted a bright future for the young literary genius. However, fame and its related material benefits did not come easily to the poet as the times were not in his favour and he did not have the patience to put up with people’s idiosyncrasies even if they were highly influential. This brilliant and detailed biography is divided into five chapters that at first transport its reader back to the declining era of the Mughals, giving fascinating insights into the lifestyle, culture, customs and traditions of both the common man and the nobility. In the latter part of the book, the author traces the life of the “turbulent genius”, poet Mirza Ghalib, starting with his early life, his war with contemporary poets, his anguish at the changing times, financial debts and distress, and finally his sick and lonely years leading to his death. About Pavan K. Varma Pavan K. Varma in an Indian author and diplomat. A few of his other books are When Loss is Gain, Havelis of Old Delhi and The Great Indian Middle Class. He was born in November 1953. He studied History at St. Stephen’s College in New Delhi and followed it with a degree in law. He worked at the Indian Foreign Service in 1976 and worked there until 2012. Varma is currently serving as the Cultural Adviser to the Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar.