Mehdi Jafar is a name to reckon with in the world of Urdu literary criticism. In fact, he is a literary giant of Urdu, who has not hogged due highlight since he himself underplays him out of humility. He is an extremely good poet and writer.   Mehdi Jafar did a long stint at a top government assignment. He lived in the  Shastri Nagar colony in Bhopal  . 

The contents of Keemiya-e-Samri – ghazals, azad ghazal and poems – are indeed additions to Urdu poetry. He has his own brand and style. His observation and thought are deep. The Mehdi Jafar I know never does anything in ordinary way.