TO his neighbours, grandfather Akbar Alikhan lives a quiet life with his wife Carmelina in Kidlington.

But when he lifts his pen, he becomes Akbar Hyderabadi, a world-renowned Urdu poet who is now bringing his talent to the English language.

Mr Alikhan, 86, came to Oxford from his native India to study architecture more than 50 years ago.

The grandfather-of-seven left Bombay in 1955 aged 30 to complete his architect’s training at the Oxford School of Architecture.

He said: “My first job, as an architectural assistant, was with a firm in Abingdon, but because of the persistent economic recession, building activity had decreased so much that I had to make a living working in the post office in Becket Street and a firm of insurance brokers.”

He met his Italian wife-to-be, who was working as an au pair in Oxford, and the poetry he had been writing since a child began play a larger role in his life.

He said: “I did not make a switch to poetry from architecture; poetry has always been a divining force in my life.

“My poems started off nostalgic, as I missed Hyderabad, but I would soon be inspired more by whom I met, and by what I read about the world.”

His first book, Khat-e-Rahguzar (The Line Denoting the Path), was published in 1971 and three further volumes followed during the next two decades.

He said: “The fourth book was declared best book of Urdu verse for 1994 by six independent judges. I was invited to tour the US, attending symposiums in major cities.”

Helping to promote poetry, particularly among the young, is one of his passions, and he has contributed to Oxford’s own Anjuman-e-adab, a multi-cultural organisation founded in 2005, which stages poetry readings and other cultural activities.

Last year, Mr Alikhan supplemented his five published volumes of Urdu poetry with Reflections.

He said: “For many years I wrote the occasional English poem. In fact, in the late 1960s/early 70s I dabbled with a bit of English songwriting, which may have been the catalyst. And in the mid-70s I presented a weekly programme on Radio Oxford for Asian listeners called abrang, which means multi colours.

“I published Reflections because I wanted to reach out to poets who may not have been brought up with Urdu, and also to my own immediate family.

“My daughter Rehana, 51, who is headteacher at a Christian school in Bristol, already sings some of my ghazals in Urdu, despite never having learnt the language properly. I also wanted my son Najaf to be able to read them, as well as my grandchildren.

“I was immensely proud when my granddaughter Yasmeen not only designed the book cover of Reflections, but also compiled the poems.”

Now 86, and still intent on writing poetry, Mr Alikhan said: “My birth home Hyderabad has changed beyond recognition, with many five-star hotels, highways and flyovers. Less rickshaws, more cars – everyone is so busy!

“I am happy and proud to say Oxford is now my second home.”