LUCKNOW, 18 April 2004 — Thousands of Urdu lovers attended the funeral of poet Irfan Siddiqui, a former officer of the information department, on Friday. Described as a poet of poets in the subcontinent, Siddiqui, 62, will be remembered as a trendsetter of modern Urdu ghazal. He authored many books, popular among them being “Ishq Nama” and “Saat Samawaat.” His book of poems “Dariya” was recently published in Pakistan where he was as popular as in his home country. Siddiqui, who was in a coma for three days, leaves behind one son and four daughters.