Gani Kashmiri (; born Muhammad Tahir Gani Ashai; c. 1669), was a Persian-language poet. His uncertain authorship, including gazals and 100,000 verses, consist of some single tazmins, ninety-two rubaʿis, two maṯnavis, and one twenty-eight couplets and some verses in rekhta. His writings have been reinterpreted by Muhammad Iqbal, Mir Taqi Mir, Saadat Hasan Manto and by a rebellion Mughal poet, Ghalib who is believed to have translated around forty of his couplets into Urdu language. In Kashmiri literature besides Persian and Urdu, he is often recognized one of the greatest poets of the Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Kashmir Valley, a place he lived his life. He was born around 1630 as Muhammad Tahir Gani Ashai in Ashai family and lived in Rajouri Kadal, Srinagar. He produced most of his work during the reign of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. It is believed he preferably did not complete any nonformal or formal education outside Srinagar, though he received his education from Mohsin Fani, a Persian historian who taught him medicine, literature and philosophy. Influences Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor, who retained the royal position over Indian subcontinent for a period of 49 years, invited him via his governor Saif Khan to his residence to know about his writing style, and asked to recite marsiya for the king. Literary work Sometimes, he used to sing besides writing, and during the time, he used to close all doors and leave them open while on the go. His poetry is believed to have strong influences across Iran, Turan and Central Asia, India, and Afghanistan. Gani's literary work was covered in a book titled Title The Captured Gazelle: The Poems of Ghani Kashmiri by Mufti Mudasir Farooqi, which was published in 2013. The book includes translation of the Persian poems into English language. Death He died around 1669 and is buried near Rajouri Kadal, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. In 2009, the government of Jammu and Kashmir ordered construction of walls and tomb, however the Srinagar Municipal Corporation was accused for delayed work, leading the construction to complete in a period of one year. The Greater Kashmir argued that involved constructor defaced the tomb in an attempt to complete the signed contract within deadline. Death date Scholars and historians have different opinions about his actual death date. Some scholars said he died at 41, while some argue he lived long. Legacy Institutions On 30 June 2001,