Masudi Sa-adi Salman-
Eminent Persian poet of 5th century of Islam ( 11th century AD ).
Salman enjoyed fame at the Ghaznawid Court but did spend 18 years in imprisonment during which time he wrote his famous laments.
He was born in Lahore ( present day Pakistan ) into a wealthy family and his family had hailed from Hamadan ( Iran ) where his Father had been a Court Official.
It was in 1076 that his appearance as a panegyrist first occurs at the Court of Sayfal al Din Dawla Mahmud where he produced the ” Kasida yi Madina ”
It is reported that he went to Ghazna to reclaim land but due to the suspected disloyalty of his patron Salman was imprisoned for a period of 10 years in places such as Su, Dahak , and Nay. He was released by Ala Al Din Dawla ( 3rd ) who also made him a curator of the Royal Library.
Salman also enjoyed the patronage of Nasr i Farsi , the Deputy Governor of India , and when Nasr i Frasi fell from favour , Salman was again imprisoned for a period of 8 years in Marandj. It was in 1107 that he was released by Kamal al Dawla Arsalan Shah.
Despite his great age , it was during the reign of Bahram Shah that Salman gained recognition once again.
As a panegyrist, Salman continued with the styles of Unsuri, Farrukhi, and Manuchiri. The panegyrics of Salman have a special interest for the Historian since they contain rare historical data of the geography, events and recollections of his.
The foremost contribution as a poet by Salman have been his poems written whilst in prison ( habbsiyat ) in which he conveys the wretchedness of his days therein. It is in these poems that one hears that intensely personal voice whose lack is so frequently decried in Persian poetry.