Noted Urdu poet and Jnanpith awardee Akhlaq Mohammed Khan popularly known as Shahryar passed away in Aligarh last night after a protracted illness. Seventy six years old poet was suffering from cancer.

Family sources told AIR Allahabad correspondent that he took his last breath at his home about 8pm on Monday.

The poet will be laid to rest at Aligarh Muslim University's graveyard on Tuesday afternoon.

As the news of his death spread in the city, a large number of fans, friends and local people reached his home to pay homage to great literately figure of this time.

Last year Shahryar was awarded with Jnanpith Award-for 2008 in the recognition of his contribution to Urdu poetry and literature.

Shahryar shot to fame for penning ghazals in Bollywood classics like Gaman, Umrao Jaan and Anjuman.

He was also awarded with Sahitya Akademy Award in Urdu for his poetry collection, Khwab Ka Dar Band Hai.

Besides, he wrote a number of poetry collections which brought glory to him in literary world. His first collection of Urdu poetry was published in 1965.

Born in Aawalla town in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh on June 19, 1936, Shahryar pursued his higher education at Aligarh Muslim University, before obtaining a PhD and joining the university's faculty in 1966.

He retired as Chairman of the university's Urdu department in 1996.

The doyen of Urdu poetry in India, Akhlaq Mohammed Khan, was one of the most celebrated writers of ghazals and nazm in Urdu language.

Better known as Shahryar, he immortalized himself after penning ghazals in Bollywood classics like 'Umrao Jaan', Gaman and Anjuman.

In 1987 Shahryar was awarded Sahitya Akademi award in Urdu for his poetry collection Khwab Ka Dar Band Hai.

Last year he was awarded with Jnanpith Award-for 2008 in recognition of his contribution to Urdu poetry and literature.

Shahryar played a major role in shaping today's Urdu poetry and his death is a big loss to the world of Urdu literature.