Legendary Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib’s Hakimon ki Haveli is located at Gali Qasim Jaan in Ballimaran, Delhi. The great poet spent an important phase of his life here. This is the place where he spent many an hour lost in thoughts – penning down verses – verses that changed the world of Urdu poetry forever.
The Haveli is in shambles today and was being used as shops till December 1999 when Delhi Government acquired some parts of the Haveli and set up a Memorial Museum dedicated to Mirza Ghalib. The museum was inaugurated by the L.G. of Delhi, in presence of the State Chief Minister and was opened for visitors on 27th December, 2000 – the birth anniversary of Ghalib.
Great care and effort has been made so that the visitors can relive and experience the nineteenth century grandeur at the museum. It displays the letters of Ghalib written in his own hand, last photograph of the poet, chronology of events, selected couplets from his works, books and some personal belongings of the poet. As soon as one enters, a huge portrait of Mirza's couplets in his own handwriting can be seen hung on the sidewall. The museum also houses a life size portrait of the poet in a realistic setting with a hookah in his hand. Portraits of Ustaad Zauq, Abu Zafar, Momin, and other noted contemporaries of Mirza can also be seen.
Mirza Ghalib Haveli, which was mute witness to the bloodshed during the Revolt of 1857, still stands tall. The Mughal style columns and bricks at the Haveli invoke memories of old times.