This list of Indian poets consists of poets of Indian ethnic, cultural or religious ancestry either born in India or emigrated to India from other regions of the world.

Assamese

• Amulya Barua (1922–1946), first published posthumously in 1964
• Atul Chandra Hazarika (1903–1986), poet, dramatist, children's story writer and translator
• Parvati Prasad Baruva (1904-1964), lyricist, poet and filmmaker
• Bhabananda Deka (born 1929), writer, poet, critic, columnist, playwright
• Ganesh Gogoi (born 1907–1938)
• Hem Barua (1915–1977), poet and politician
• Lakshminath Bezbarua, a doyen of Assamese literature
• Chandra Kumar Agarwala, Romantic poet
• Hemchandra Goswami, Romantic poet
• Ambikagiri Raichoudhury, Romantic poet
• Hiren Bhattacharya (1932–2012), writer, poet, critic, columnist and editor
• Homen Borgohain (1932–2021), writer, poet, critic, columnist and editor
• Indira Goswami (1942-2011), Jnanapith Award winner, poet, editor and academician
• Jyoti Prasad Agarwala (1903–1953), playwright, songwriter, poet, writer and film maker
• Bishnu Prasad Rabha (KolaGuru)
• Nabakanta Barua, also known as Ekhud Kokaideu (1926–2002), novelist and poet
• Nilmani Phookan (born 1933)
• Harekrishna Deka (born 1942), poet, fiction writer, and critic
• Mahim Bora (born 1930), poet, fiction writer
• Santana Tanty (born 1952), poet

Bengali

Bengali language names in parentheses

• Abul Bashar (born 1951), poet and writer
• Annadashankar Roy (1905–2002)
• Bharatchandra Ray (1712–1760), Raygunakar, Shakta court poet and song writer in Krishnanagar
• Binoy Majumdar (1934–2006), Indian poet
• Bishnu Dey (1909–1982), poet, prose writer, movie critic
• Buddhadeb Basu (also spelled "Buddhadeva Bose") (1908–1974), poet, novelist, short-story writer and essayist
• Chandidas (born 1408 CE), refers to (possibly more than one) medieval poet
• Dwijendralal Ray (1863–1913), poet, playwright, and musician, known primarily for patriotic plays and songs, as well as Hindu devotional lyrics
• Girindramohini Dasi (1858–1924), 19th century poet
• Govindadasa, Medieval Vaishanavite poet
• Humayun Kabir (1906–1969), poet, educationalist, politician, writer, philosopher
• Iswarchandra Gupta (1812–1859), poet and writer
• Jatindramohan Bagchi (1878–1948)
• Jatindranath Sengupta (1887–1954), poet and writer
• Jibanananda Das (1899–1954)
• Joy Goswami (born 1954), Indian poet
• Kazi Nazrul Islam (also spelled "Kazi Nozrul Islam") (1899–1976), poet, musician, revolutionary, and philosopher
• Krittibas Ojha (also spelled "Krittivas Ojha"), medieval poet
• Malay Roy Choudhury (born 1939), founder of the Hungry generation movement
• Mallika Sengupta (born 1960), poet and writer
• Mandakranta Sen (born 1972), feminist poet, youngest winner of Ananda Puraskar and Sahitya Akademi Golden Jubilee award
• Michael Madhusudan Dutta (also spelled "Maikel Modhushudôn Dôtto" and "Datta") (1824–1873), born Madhusudan Dutt, poet and dramatist
• Nabaneeta Dev Sen (Nôbonita Deb Shen) (born 1938), writer and poet
• Nabinchandra Sen (1847–1909), poet and writer
• Premendra Mitra (1904–1988), poet, novelist, short-story writer, including thrillers and science fiction
• Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar (1921–1990), known for Prabhat Samgiita
• Purnendu Patri (born 1930), poet, novelist, artist and film maker
• Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941), Indian poet who won the 1913 Nobel Prize in Literature
• Ramprasad Sen (1718–1775), Shakta court poet
• Shankha Ghosh (1932–2021), poet and critic
• Shivadasa Sen (born 14th century)
• Samir Roychoudhury (1933–2016), post-modern poet, short story writer, critic and editor
• Subhash Mukhopadhyay (Shubhash Mukhopaddhae) (1919–2003)
• Subhro Bandopadhyay (born 1978), poet
• Subodh Sarkar (born 1958), poet
• Sudhindranath Dutta
• Sukanta Bhattacharya (1926–1947), poet
• Sukumar Ray (1887–1923), humorous poet, short-story writer and playwright
• Sunil Gangopadhyay (Shunil Gônggopaddhae) (born 1934), Indian poet, novelist
• Syed Kawsar Jamal (born 1950), Indian poet and essayist
• Tarapada Roy (1936–2007), poet, essayist and short-story writer, short stories, and essays, humourist

Indian poets writing in English

In alphabetical order by first name:

• A. J. Thomas (born 1952), poet, editor
• A. K. Ramanujan (1929–1993), poet and scholar of Indian literature who wrote in both English and Kannada
• Abhay K (born 1980), poet, diplomat, writer, author and artist
• Agha Shahid Ali (1949–2001), Kashmiri-American poet writing in English
• Amit Chaudhuri (born 1962), author and poet writing in English
• Amitabh Mitra poet, artist and emergency medicine physician
• Amol Redij (born 1977), English poet and writer
• Arun Kolatkar (1932–2004), poet writings in English and Marathi
• Arundhathi Subramaniam, poet and writer and web editor writing in English
• Arvind Krishna Mehrotra (born 1947), poet, anthologist, literary critic and translator writing in English
• Bibhu Padhi (born 1951), poet, translator and critic writing in English
• C. P. Surendran (born 1958), poet, novelist and editor writing in English
• D. C. Chambial, poet, editor and critic
• Eunice De Souza (also "Eunice de Souza" (born 1940)), poet, literary critic and novelist writing in English
• Feroze Varun Gandhi (born 1980), poet, politician and columnist
• Fredoon Kabraji (1897–1986), poet, writer, journalist, and artist writing in English
• G. S. Sharat Chandra (1935–2000), author and poet writing in English
• Gieve Patel (born 1940), poet, playwright, painter and a practising general physician
• Gopi Kottoor (born 1956), internationally acclaimed poet, playwright and translator
• Hemant Mohapatra, poet writing in English
• Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (1809–1831), Indian poet
• Jagannath Prasad Das (born 1936), also known as J P Das, award-winning poet in English and Oriya
• Jayanta Mahapatra (born 1928), internationally acclaimed poet, winner of Padma Shri and first ever Sahitya Akademi Award for English poetry
• Jeet Thayil (born 1959), poet, novelist, editor, winner of Sahitya Akademi Award and first Indian to win DSC Prize
• Kamala Das also known as "Kamala Suraiya" (born 1934), writer and poet in English and Malayalam
• Keki Daruwalla (born 1937), winner of Padma Shri and Sahitya Akademi Award winner for English poetry
• K. V. Dominic (born 1956), poet, short story writer, critic and editor
• Makarand Paranjape (born 1960), poet writing in English
• Mani Rao (born 1965), poet writing in English
• Meena Alexander (1951-2018), poet, scholar and writer in English, Distinguished Professor of English at Hunter College
• Meena Kandasamy (born 1984), writer, poet, translator and activist
• Michael Madhusudan Dutt (1824–1873), poet and dramatist
• Nissim Ezekiel (1924–2004), poet, playwright and art critic and editor writing in English
• Nalini Priyadarshni (1974), poet, writer, and critic in English
• Nandini Sahu (1973), feminist poet, writer, and critic writing in English
• Neelam Saxena Chandra (born 1969), poet, author, novelist writing in English and Hindi
• P. Lal (1929–2010), poet, translator, professor and publisher; founder and publisher of Writers Workshop in Calcutta, India
• P C K Prem (born 1945), poet, critic and author writing in Hindi and English
• Pritish Nandy (born 1951), poet, journalist, politician, television personality and film producer writing in English
• R. Parthasarathy, poet, translator, critic, and editor writing in English
• Rochelle Potkar, fiction writer and poet
• Raman Mundair, poet, writer, artist and playwright writing in English
• Yuyutsu Sharma (born 1960), poet, editor and translator, writes in English
• Ranjit Hoskote (born 1969), poet, art critic, cultural theorist and independent curator writing in English
• Rashmi Parekh (born 1976), poet of free verse poetry
• Robin S Ngangom, poet writing in English
• Rukmini Bhaya Nair, poet and theorist, writing in English
• Salik Shah, poet, author, editor and publisher in English
• Sarojini Naidu (1879–1949), eminent poet, freedom fighter and administrator writing in English
• Shahzad A. Rizvi (born 1937, Gwalior), author, scholar and poet writing in English and Urdu
• Shiv Kumar, poet, playwright, novelist, short story writer
• Shreekumar Varma (born 1955), newspaper columnist, poet, novelist writing in English
• Smita Agarwal (born 1958), poet, critic, educator, and singer
• Som Ranchan (born 1932), poet and novelist writing in English
• Sri Aurobindo (Sri Ôrobindo, 1872–1950), poet, philosopher, and yogi writing in English and French
• Sudeep Sen, poet and editor writing in English
• Tabish Khair (born 1966), poet, novelist and essayist
• Tapan Kumar Pradhan (born 1972), activist, poet, writer; winner of Sahitya Akademi Golden Jubilee Award for poetry
• Tishani Doshi (born 1975), internationally acclaimed poet; first ever Indian to win Forward Poetry Prize
• T.K. Doraiswamy (Nakulan (1921–2007), poet, novelist, translator and professor of English
• T. Vasudeva Reddy (born 1943), poet, novelist, critic and professor of English
• Toru Dutt (1856–1877), poet, wrote in English and French
• Urvashi Bahuguna, poet and essayist
• Vihang A. Naik (born 1969), poet and educator writing in English and Gujarati.
• Vikram Seth (born 1952), award winning novelist and poet writing in English.

Gujarati

In alphabetical order by last name:

• Akho (1591–1659), poet, Vedantist and radical
• Adil Mansuri (1936–2008), Gujarati poet from Gujarat, India
• Niranjan Bhagat (born 1926), Gujarati poet
• Anil Chavda (born 1985), Gujarati language poet, writer and columnist from Gujarat
• Ashok Chavda (born 1978), Gujarati language poet, writer and critic from Gujarat
• Pir Sadardin, fourteenth-century Ismaili Da'i; regarded as the founder of the Khoja Ismaili sect; also called Satpanth
• Dalpatram (1820–1898), father of Nanalal Dalpatram Kavi
• Dayaram (1777–1853), Gujarati poet of medieval Gujarati literature
• Dileep Jhaveri (born 1943), poet, translator and editor from Mumbai
• Mahadev Desai (1892–1942), writer in English, Gujarati and Bengali
• Suresh Joshi (1921–1986), novelist, short-story writer, critic, poet and writer
• Umashankar Joshi – see listing under "Umashankar", below
• Kalapi (1874–1900), poet and the royal of Lathi state in Gujarat
• Kavi Kant (1867–1923), writer and poet in Gujarati
• Nanalal Dalpatram Kavi (નાનાલાલ દલપતરામ કવિ)
• Jhaverchand Meghani (1896–1947), novelist, poet, short-story writer, folklorist in Gujarati
• Narsinh Mehta, alternate spelling Narasingh Mehta (c. 1414 – c. 1481)
• Chinu Modi (1939–2017), Gujarati poet from Gujarat, India
• Manhar Modi, Gujarati poet from Gujarat, India
• K. M. Munshi (1887–1971), novelist, playwright, writer, politician and lawyer
• Narmad (1834–1886), Gujarati poet, playwright, essayist and reformer during British India
• Vihang A. Naik (born 1969), writes poetry in Gujarati and English
• Ravji Patel (born 1939), modernist poet and novelist in Gujarati
• Rajendra Shah (born 1913), Gujarati poet and Jnanpith Award winner
• Rajendra Shukla, Gujarati poet
• Sundaram (1909–1990), poet, short-story writer, travel writer, biographer and critic
• Govardhanram Tripathi (1855–1907), novelist and poet
• Umashankar Joshi (1911–1988), novelist, poet, playwright, writer and academic; surname: Umashankar, Jnanpith Award winner
• Sitanshu Yashaschandra (born 1941), Gujarati language poet and playwright

Hindi

• Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana (1556–1627), composer, poet, and produced books on astrology
• Amir Khusrow (1253–1325), musician, scholar and poet
• Ashok Chakradhar (1951– ), author and poet
• Banarsidas (1586–1643), poet, businessman
• Bihari (1595–1663), poet, author
• Bhikhari Das (1721–?), poet
• Bharatendu Harishchandra (1850–1885), novelist, poet, playwright
• Bhawani Prasad Mishra (1913–1985), poet and author
• Dharmveer Bharti (1926–1997), poet, author, playwright and social thinker
• Dushyant Kumar (1933–1975)
• Gulzar (1934– ), poet, lyricist, film director
• Geet Chaturvedi (1977– ), poet, short story author and journalist
• Gopal Singh Nepali (1911–1963), poet of Hindi literature and lyricist of Bollywood
• Gopaldas Neeraj (1924– ), poet and author
• Gulab Khandelwal (1924– ), poetry including some in Urdu and English
• Harivansh Rai Bachchan (1907–2003), poet of Chhayavaad literary movement (romantic upsurge)
• Hemant Shesh (1952– ), writer, poet and civil servant
• Hith Harivansh Mahaprabhu (1502–1552), bhakti Braj Bhasha poet-sant and religious leader
• Jagdish Gupt (1924–2001), Chhayavaad literary movement poet
• Jaishankar Prasad (1889–1937), novelist, playwright, poet
• Javed Akhtar (1945– ), poet, lyricist and scriptwriter
• Jumai Khan Azad (1930–2013), poet
• Jwalamukhi (1938–2008), poet, novelist, writer and political activist
• Jyotsna Milan (1941–2014), poet, novelist, short story writer and editor
• Kabir (1440–1518), mystic poet and saint of India
• Kavi Bhushan (1613–1712), poet and scholar
• Kaka Hathrasi (1906–1995), satirist and humorist poet
• Kedarnath Agarwal (1911–2000), Hindi language poet and littérateur
• Kedarnath Singh (1934– ), poet, critic and essayist
• Keshavdas (1555–1617), best known for his Rasik Priya, a pioneering work of the riti kaal
• Kripalu Maharaj (1922–2013), spiritual master and poet
• Krishan Kumar Sharma "Rasik" (1983– ), Hindi, Punjabi, English and Urdu poet and writer
• Kumar Vishwas (1970– ), poet and professor
• Kunwar Narayan (1927– ), poet
• Kanwal Ziai (1927–2011)
• Mahadevi Varma (1906–1987), poet, woman's activist and educationist
• Maithili Sharan Gupt (1886–1964), poet, politician, dramatist, translator
• Makhanlal Chaturvedi (1889–1968), Indian poet, writer, essayist, playwright and journalist
• Meera (1498–1547), mystic singer and composer of Bhajans
• Mohan Rana (1964– ), poet
• Murari Lal Sharma Neeras (1936– ), poet and educator
• Naresh Mehta, poet and playwright
• Nagarjun (1911–1998), poet, writer, essayist, novelist
• Nawal Kishore Dhawal (1911–1964), writer, poet, proofreader, editor, critic, journalist and author
• Neelam Saxena Chandra (b 1969), poet, writer, novelist
• Padma Sachdev, poet, novelist (Hindi and Dogri language)
• Parichay Das, writer and editor and contemporary Bhojpuri poetry
• Pawan Karan (1964– ), poet, writer, editor, and journalist
• Prasoon Joshi (1971– ), poet, lyricist
• Rambhadracharya (1950– )[β], Hindu religious leader, educator, Sanskrit scholar, polyglot, poet, author, textual commentator, philosopher, composer, singer, playwright and Katha artist
• Ramdhari Singh Dinkar (1908–1974), poet, essayist and academic
• Ramesh Chandra Jha (1925–1994 ), poet, novelist and freedom fighter
• Rustam Singh (born 1955), poet, philosopher, translator and editor
• Ravindra Prabhat (1969– ), author and poet
• Quaiser Khalid (1971–), author and poet
• Sachchidananda Vatsyayan (1911–1987), poet, writer, novelist, journalist, traveller
• Sahir Ludhianvi, lyricist, poet from Punjab (Ludhiana)
• Shahnaz Fatmi (1949–), poet, writer, essayist, novelist
• Shivmangal Singh Suman (1915–2002), poet and academician
• Shail Chaturvedi (1936–2007), poet, humorist, lyricist, actor
• Sri Lal Sukla (1925–2011), author, writer
• Subhadra Kumari Chauhan (1904–1948), poet
• Sudama Panday 'Dhoomil' (1936–1975), poet
• Sūdan (1700–1753), poet, writer
• Sumitranandan Pant (1900–1975), Chhayavaad poetry, verse plays and essays
• Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala' (1899–1961), poet, novelist, essayist and story-writer
• Suryakumar Pandey (Born 1954), poet, writer
• Surdas (1467–1583), composer and devotional poet
• Tara Singh, poet
• Teji Grover (born 1955), Hindi poet, fiction writer, translator and painter
• Tulsidas (1532–1623), poet-saint, reformer and philosopher
• Tribhuvan (born 1964), poet, writer, and journalist
• Uday Prakash (1952– ), scholar, poet, journalist, translator and short story writer
• Valmiki, poet-saint, author of the epic Ramayana
• Virendra Kumar Baranwal (born 1941), Indian poet and writer
• Vrind (1643–1723), poet

Kannada

• A. K. Ramanujan (1929–1993), poet and scholar of Indian literature who wrote in Kannada and English
• Kuvempu (1904–1994)
• D. R. Bendre (1896–1981)
• Gopalakrishna Adiga (1918–1992)
• V. K. Gokak (1909–1992)
• K. S. Narasimhaswamy (1915–2003)
• U. R. Ananthamurthy (1932–2014)
• Adikavi Pampa (902–975)
• Ranna (949-?)
• Janna (13th century)
• Harihara
• Vaidehi (1945– )
• D. V. Gundappa (1887–1975)
• Purandara Dasa (1484–1564)
• Kanaka Dasa (1509–1609)
• M. Govinda Pai (1883–1963)
• Dinakara Desai (1909–1982)
• Gangadevi (14th century)
• Gourish Kaikini (1912–2002)
• Kumara Vyasa (late 14th-early 15th century)
• Akka Mahadevi (1130–1160)
• Nagavarma I (late 10th-early 11th century)
• Nagavarma II (late 11th-early 12th century)
• T. N. Srikantaiah (1906–1966)
• B. M. Srikantaiah (1884–1946)
• G. S. Shivarudrappa (1926–2013)
• Allama Prabhu (12th century)
• Shishunala Sharif (1819–1889)
• Sarvajna (16th century)
• K. S. Nissar Ahmed (1936– )
• Masti Venkatesha Iyengar
• Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar
• Raghavendra Swami (belongs to Kannada Madhva Brahmin; born in 1595 or 1598 or 1601 CE)
• Devanur Mahadeva (1948 Devanuru village Nanjangud taluk, Mysore district, Karnataka)
• Sri Ponna (born 9th to 10th century)
• Kayyar Kinhanna Rai (1915 to 2015)
• Raghavanka (12th century)
• Rudrabhatta (12th century)
• Palkuriki Somanatha (1195)
• Kesiraja (13th century)

Kashmiri

• Allama Muhammad Iqbal
• Abdul Ahad Azad (1903–1948)
• Agha Shahid Ali
• Amin Kamil (1924–2014)
• Arnimal (died 1800)
• Ghulam Ahmad Mahjur (1885–1952)
• Habba Khatun (16th century)
• Lalleshwari, also known as "Lalla" or "Lal Ded"
• Mahmud Gami (1765–1855)
• Maqbool Shah Kralawari (1820–1976)
• Nund Reshi (1377–1440)
• Rasul Mir (died 1870)
• Rehman Rahi (1925–2023), poet, translator and critic
• Rupa Bhavani (1621–1721)
• Zinda Kaul 'Masterji' (1884–1965)
• Hakeem Manzoor (1937–2006)
• Ghulam Nabi Firaq (1922–2016)

Konkani

• Balakrishna Bhagwant Borkar (1910–1984), also known as "Baki-baab"
• R. V. Pandit, vast poetic production in Konkani, and some in Portuguese
• Uday Bhembre
• Ramesh Veluskar, prominent and award-winning Konkani poet

Maithili

• Vidyapati, also known as Vidyapati Thakur and called Maithil Kavi Kokil "the poet cuckoo of Maithili" (c. 1352 – c. 1448), Maithili poet and Sanskrit writer
• Rashtrakavi Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, 23 September 1908 – 24 April 1974,poet, essayist, freedom fighter, patriot and academic
• Acharya Ramlochan Saran (1889–1971), littérateur, grammarian, publisher and poet
• Jayamant Mishra (1925–2010), Sanskrit scholar and Maithili poet

Malayalam

Medieval poets

• Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, called the "Father of the Malayalam language" (fl. 16th century)
• Johann Ernst Hanxleden, also known as "Arnos Paathiri" (1681–1732), German Jesuit priest
• Poonthanam Namboothiri (fl. 16th century), devotional poet
• Kunchan Nambiar (1705–1770)
• Unnayi Warrier
• Irayimman Thampi (1783–1862), court poet and musician
• Moyinkutty Vaidyar (1857–1891)

Renaissance Poets

• Kumaran Asan (1873–1924)
• Kerala Varma Valiya Koyithampuran, also known as Kerala Varma (1845–1914), poet and translator
• Vallathol Narayana Menon (1878–1958)
• Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer (1877–1949)
• K. V. Simon (1883–1943)
• K.C. Kesava Pillai (1868–1914)
• A. R. Raja Raja Varma (1863–1918), poet, grammarian, scholar, critic and writer

Romantic Poets

• Changampuzha Krishna Pillai (1911–1948), poet and translator
• Edappalli Raghavan Pillai (1909–1936)
• P. Kunhiraman Nair (1906–1974)
• Sanjayan

Neo-Romantic Poets

• G. Sankara Kurup, aka "Sankara Kurup" (died 1978)
• Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon, aka "Vailoppilli Sreedhara Menon" (1911–1985)
• Edasseri Govindan Nair (1906–1974))
• N.V. Krishna Warrier (1916–1989), poet and scholar
• Thirunalloor Karunakaran (1924–2006), poet and scholar
• P. Bhaskaran (1924–2007), poet and film songwriter
• Vayalar Ramavarma, also spelled Vayalar Rama Varma (1928–1975)
• O.N.V. Kurup (born 1931)
• Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri (born 1939)
• Kunjunni (died 2006)
• Balamani Amma
• Sugathakumari

Modernist Poets

• M. Govindan (1919–1988)
• K. Ayyappa Panicker, also spelled Ayyappa Paniker, Indian (1930–2006)
• Attoor Ravi Varma
• Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan, popularly known as Kadammanitta (1935–2008)
• Satchidanandan (born 1946), critic (writing in Malayalam and English), poet (in Malayalam)
• S. Rajasekharan (born 1946), poet and literary critic
• D. Vinayachandran
• A. Ayyappan (born 1949)
• Balachandran Chullikkad (born 1957), poet and actor
• Nellikkal Muraleedharan (born 1948), poet, writer and critic
• Venu V Desom

Postmodern Poets

• P. P. Ramachandran
• T. P. Rajeevan (born 1959), poet, novelist and literary critic.
• V. M. Girija (born 1961), poet
• Veerankutty
• Syam Sudhakar (born 1983), poet and literary critic

Manipuri

• Nongthombam Biren Singh, politician, poet and former journalist
• Ashangbam Minaketan Singh (1906-1995), founder of modern Meitei literature, author of Manipuri epic "Basanta sheireng", winner of Padma Shri, Sahitya Akademi and Soviet Land Nehru Prize
• Robin S Ngangom (born 1959), poet who writes in English and Meiteilon
• Angom Gopi (1710-1780), classical Manipuri poet, translator of Bhagavad Gita and Bible into Meitei language
• Rajkumar Shitaljit Singh (1913-2008), poet, writer and teacher, winner of President's Medal and Sahitya Ratna award
• Elangbam Nilakanta Singh (1927-2000), author of "Tirtha Yatra" and "Manipuri Sheirang"; winner of Padma Shri and Sahitya Akademi Award

Marathi

• Samarth Ramdas, wrote Manache Shlok; known as the Guru of Shivaji Maharaj
• Sant Dnyaneshwar, also known as "Sant Jñāneshwar" and "Jñanadeva" (1275–1296), saint, poet, philosopher and yogi
• Eknath or Eknāth (1533–1599), poet and scholar
• Tukaram (birth-year estimates range from 1577–-1609 – died 1650)
• Keshav Pandit, also known as Keshav Pandit or Keshav Bhat Pandit (died 1690), religious official under Chhatrapati Shivaji, poet and Sanskrit scholar
• Raghunath Pandit
• Suresh Bhat 1932–2003), known as Ghazal Samrat (Emperor of ghazals) for his exposition of that form
• Namdeo Dhasal (born 1949), poet, writer, journalist, editor and Dalit activist
• Manohar Oak (born 1933), poet and novelist
• Arun Kolatkar (born 1931 or 1932), poet who wrote both in Marathi and English; also a graphic designer
• Bahinabai Chaudhari (1880–1951), illiterate poet whose son wrote down her poems for her
• Tryambak Bapuji Thombre "Balkavi"
• Vilas Sarang (born 1942), writer, critic, translator and poet
• Kusumagraj, pen name of Vishnu Vāman Shirwādkar (1912–1999), poet, writer and humanist
• P. S. Rege (1910–1978), poet, playwright, fiction writer and academic
• Shanta Shelke (1922–2002), poet, journalist, professor, composer, story writer, translator, writer of children's literature
• Hemant Divate (born 1967), poet, editor of Abhidhanantar magazine, translator
• Hridaynath Mangeshkar (born 1937), eminent poet and composer of songs mainly in Marathi and Hindi
• Manya Joshi (born 1972), Marathi poet
• Mangesh Narayanrao Kale (born 1966), poet, editor, critic and translator
• Saleel Wagh (born 1967), poet, translator, critic
• G. D. Madgulkar, popularly known in his home state of Maharashtra by his initials, Ga Di Ma (1919–1977), poet, lyricist, writer and actor; older brother of writer Venkatesh Madgulkar
• Poet Borkar, Balakrishna Bhagwant Borkar, also known as "Baki-baab" (1910–1984), wrote mostly in Marathi but with numerous works in Konkani
• Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (1883–1966), revolutionary freedom fighter, ideologue and thinker who composed mainly poems and songs of nationalist and revolutionary sentiments
• Varjesh Solanki (born 1967), award-winning Marathi poet
• Vasant Abaji Dahake (born 1942), poet, novelist, playwright, artist, and critic
• Bhau Panchbhai, poet and dalit activist
• Mangesh Padgaonkar (born 1929), Marathi poet and recipient Maharashtra Bhushan Award
• Indira Sant

Nepali

See also: List of Nepali-language poets

• Agam Singh Giri (1927–1971)
• Hari Bhakta Katuwal (1935-1980)
• Kamala Sankrityayan (1920-2009)
• Parijat (1937–1993)
• Rajendra Bhandari (born 1956)
• Salik Shah (his bilingual poetry collection, "Khas Pidgin," won Elgin Award nomination from Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association in 2018)^[1]
• Tulsiram Sharma 'Kashyap' (1939 – 1998)
• Yuyutsu Sharma (born 1960)

Odia

• Jayadeva (1170-1245), author of the famous Gita Govinda in Sanskrit and some poems in Odia (12th century)
• Sarala Das (15th century AD), author of the Odia Mahabharata in verse (15th century)
• Jagannatha Dasa, author of the Odia Bhagabata and one of the panchasakha (15th century)
• Achyutananda Dasa, author of Sunya Sanghita and multiple other texts, one of the panchasakha (16th century)
• Salabega (born 1607 or 1608), Muslim author of many bhajans and devotee of Jagannath
• Upendra Bhanja (born from 1670 to 1688), poet and member of the royal family of a princely state
• Abhimanyu Samantasinghara, author of Bigadha Chintamani
• Bhima Bhoi (1850–1895), author of Stuti Chintamani, blind Mahima saint poet of Odisha
• Brajanath Badajena (1729-1799), awarded Kabi Bhushana, author of classics like "Samara Taranga" and "Chatura Binoda"
• Brajanath Ratha (1936-2014), poet, writer, social activist, winner of Tagore Award
• Fakir Mohan Senapati (1843–1918), short-story writer, novelist, poet, writer, government official and social activist
• Gangadhar Meher (1862-1924), known as Svabhava Kavi and Prakriti Kavi (Nature Poet), author of "Tapaswini" epic
• Gopabandhu Das (1877-1928), called Utkala Mani ("Gem of Orissa"), social worker, political activist, writer, novelist and poet
• Jayanta Mahapatra (born 1928), winner of Padma Shri and Sahitya Akademi Award
• Krushna Chandra Kar
• Manasi Pradhan
• Manmohan Acharya
• Nanda Kishore Bal (1875-1928), known as Palli Kavi (Poet of Rural Life), penned popular lyrics for children called "Nana Baya Geeta"
• Nirmala Devi
• Radhanath Ray (1848-1908), known as Kabibar (Supreme Poet), author of epics like "Chilika", "Chandrabhaga", "Mahajatra" and "Kedara Gouri"
• Sitakanta Mohapatra (born 1937), winner of Padma Bhusan, Padma Vibhusan, Sahitya Akademi, Jnanpith Award and Tagore Award
• Ramakrushna Nanda (1906-1994), eminent writer of children's literature, author of the morning prayer song "Ahe Dayamaya Vishwa Vihari" sung in all Odia schools
• Pratibha Satpathy (born 1945), poet, editor and winner of Sahitya Akademi Award
• Ramakant Rath (born 1934), author of epic "Shri Radha", winner of Padma Bhusan, Saraswati Samman and Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
• Tapan Kumar Pradhan (born 1972), author of Kalahandi and winner of Sahitya Akademi Golden Jubilee Award
• Sachidananda Routray (1916-2004), winner of Jnanapith Award, author of "Baji Rout", "Pratima Nayak", "Pallishri" and "Chhota Mora Gaan"
• Rabi Singh (1931-2020), freedom fighter and Marxist writer of revolutionary poems
• Upendra Bhanja (1670-1740), known as Kavi Samrat (King of Poets), author of epics like "Vaideheesha Vilasa", "Prema Sudhanidhi", "Lavanyavati" etc

Punjabi

• Bhagat Sadhana (12th century)
• Baba Farid (12th–13th century)
• Bhagat Sain (14th-15th century)
• Guru Nanak (15th-16th century)
• Bhai Mardana (15th-16th century)
• Guru Angad (16th century)
• Shah Hussain (16th century)
• Guru Amar Das (16th century)
• Baba Sunder (16th century)
• Guru Ram Das (16th century)
• Balvand Rai (16th-17th century)
• Satta Doom (16th-17th century)
• Guru Arjun Dev (16th-17th century)
• Bhatt Balh (16th-17th century)
• Bhatt Bhalh (16th-17th century)
• Bhatt Bhika (16th-17th century)
• Bhatt Gayand (16th-17th century)
• Bhatt Harbans (16th-17th century)
• Bhatt Jalap (16th-17th century)
• Bhatt Kirat (16th-17th century)
• Bhatt Kalshar (16th-17th century)
• Bhatt Mathura (16th-17th century)
• Bhatt Nalh (16th-17th century)
• Bhatt Salh (16th-17th century)
• Bhagat Surdas (16th-17th century)
• Sultan Bahu (16th–17th century)
• Damodar Das Arora (17th century)
• Saleh Muhammad Safoori (17th century)
• Guru Tegh Bahadur (17th century)
• Bulleh Shah (17th–18th century)
• Waris Shah (18th century)
• Khwaja Ghulam Farid (18th–19th century)
• Mian Muhammad Bakhsh (19th century)
• Qadaryar (19th century)
• Peelu (19th century)
• Hashim (19th century)
• Shardha Ram Phillauri (19th century)
• Shareef Kunjahi (20th century)
• Mir Tanha Yousafi (20th century)
• Anwar Masood (20th century)
• Afzal Ahsan Randhawa (20th century)
• Aatish (20th century)
• Shaista Nuzhat –(20th century)
• Bhai Veer Singh (20th century)
• Jaswant Singh Rahi (20th century)
• Dhani Ram Chatrik (20th century)
• Faiz Ahmad Faiz (20th century)
• Amrita Pritam (20th century)
• Darshan Singh Awara (20th century)
• Dr. Harbhajan Singh (20th century)
• Shiv Kumar Batalvi (20th century)
• Sharif Kunjahi (20th century)
• Paash (20th century)
• Surjit Paatar (20th century)
• Ajmer Rode (20th century)
• Ustad Daman (20th century)
• Balwant Gargi (20th-21st century)
• Sukhdarshan Dhaliwal (20th-21st century)
• Sukhbir (20th-21st century)
• Munir Niazi (20th-21st century)
• Satinder Sartaj (21st century)

Rajasthani

• Dursa Arha (1535 – 1655), 'First Nationalist Poet Of India' 16th-century warrior and Rajasthani poet
• Suryamal Misran (1815 – 1868), 19th century Rajkavi (State Poet & Historian) of Bundi State
• Mahatma Isardas (1539 – 1618), Rajasthani saint-poet
• Narharidas Barhath (1648 – 1733), Rajasthani saint-poet
• Brahmanand Swami (1772 – 1832), saint of the Swaminarayan Sampraday and as one of Swaminarayan's Paramahamsa
• Chand Bardai, Court poet of Prithvi Raj Chauhan
• Kaviraj Bankidas Asiya, 18th-century Raj-Kavi (State Poet & Historian) of Jodhpur State
• Kanhaiyalal Sethia (1919 – 2008), Rajasthani and Hindi poet
• Sanwar Daiya
• Sawai Singh Dhamora (1926 – 2017)
• Kriparam Khidiya, author of "Rajiya ra Sortha"
• Fateh Karan Charan, Rajasthani poet & leader of the Bijolia Movement
• Lakshmi Kumari Chundawat (1916 – 2014), Indian author and politician
• Shakti Dan Kaviya (1940 – 2021), Sahitya Akademi Award recipient- poet, writer, and scholar of Rajasthani, Dingal, Brajbhasha, & Hindi
• Narayan Singh Bhati (1930 – 1994), founder of Rajasthani Research Institute (Chopasani, Jodhpur)
• Vijaydan Detha (1926 – 2013), Padma Shri & Sahitya Akademi Award recipient noted Rajasthani poet & writer
• Arjun Deo Charan (born 1954), Rajasthani poet, critic, playwright, theatre director and translator
• Chandra Prakash Deval, Rajasthani poet and translator, convener of Rajasthani Advisory Council of Sahitya Akademi.
• Bhanwar Singh Samaur (born 1943), Sahitya Akademi Award recipient, writer, poet, historian, and social worker
• Kaviraja Shyamaldas (19th century), Rajkavi (State Poet & Historian) of Udaipur State
• Swarupadas (1801–1863), Dadu Panthi poet
• Thakur Akshay Singh Ratnu (1910 – 1995), Rajasthani, Brajbhasha and Hindi poet
• Thakur Kesari Singh Barhath (1872–1941), Indian revolutionary leader & poet

Sanskrit

Ancient poets

• Valmiki, author of Ramayana
• Vedavyasa, author of Mahabharata Ashtadasapurana

Classical poets

• Kālidāsa, Classical Sanskrit poet and dramatist writer of Kumara Sambhavam, Meghadootam, abhignana shakuntalam
• Adi Sankara, author of a lot of poems; Bhaja Govindam, Soundarya Lahari, Eulogy on Brahma sutrams, Bhagavathgita Bhashyam and Lalitha Sahasranama
• Bharavi, author of Kiratarjuniya
• Magha
• Bhatti, author of Bhattikāvya, known as Rāvatavadha

Medieval poets

• Jayadeva (1200 AD), author of Gita Govinda
• Narayana Panditacharya, author of Sumadhvavijaya, Sangraha Ramayana
• Vedanta Desika (1269–1370), Sri Vaishnava writer, poet, devotee, philosopher and teacher

Early modern poets

• Kavikalanidhi Devarshi Shrikrishna Bhatt (1675–1761), court poet of Jai Singh II
• Krishnadevaraya (died 1529), king of the Vijayanagara empire and poet
• Prabodhananda Sarasvati (16th century), Vaishnava bhakti poet-saint
• Vadiraja Tirtha (1480–1600), Dvaita saint, poet, devotee and philosopher

Modern Poets

• Jagadguru Rāmabhadrācārya
• Ram Karan Sharma, of New Delhi
• Srinivas Rath (1943-2014), Sahitya Akademi Award winner and founder of Kalidasa Akademi
• Vanikavi Manomohan Acharya, Cuttack
• Pandhareenathachar Galagali
• Rama Kant Shukla (born 1940), winner of Padma Shri, Kalidasa Samman, Sahitya Akademi Award
• Shridhar Bhaskar Warnekar (1918-2007), winner of Kalidasa Samman and Sahitya Akademi Award

Sindhi

• Moti Prakash

Tamil

Sangam poets (c. 300 BC to 300 AD)

• Agastya
• Avvaiyar, a poet who lived during the Sangam period (c. 1st and 2nd century CE)
• Kadiyalur Uruttirangannanar
• Kapilar

see also Sangam literature

Post-Sangam poets (200 AD to 1000 AD)

• Thiruvalluvar ([fl.] c. 2nd – 8th century AD), poet who wrote the Thirukkural, an ethical work
• Ilango Adigal (300 to 700 AD), wrote the epic Cilappathikaaram
• Nakkeerar (fl. c. 9th century)
• Sīthalai Sāttanār
• Tirutakkatevar
• Avvaiyar, an 8th-century Tamil poet

Bakthi period poets (700 to 1700 AD)

• Manikkavacakar
• 63 Nayanars, namely Appar, Sambanthar, Sundarar etc.
• 12 Alvars, namely Poigaialvar, Boothathaalvaar etc.
• Sekkizhar (fl. 12th century), poet and scholar
• Kambar
• Ottakoothar
• Arunagirinathar
• Pattinathar
• Siva Prakasar
• Avvaiyar, a 12th-century Tamil poet

Patriots and British period poets

• Anandabharati Aiyangar (1786–1846)
• Henry Alfred Krishnapillai (1827–1900, author of Ratchanya Yaatrigam)
• Subramanya Bharathi called Mahakavi Bharati ("Great Poet Bharati") (1882–1921) poet, writer, independence advocate and reformer
• Subramanya Siva (1884–1925), poet and independence advocate
• Bharathidasan, also spelled Bharatidasan (1891–1964), poet, playwright, screenwriter, short-story writer and essayist
• Kavimani Desigavinayagam Pillai
• Sheikh Thambi Pavalar
• Ramalinga Swamigal

Modern

• Perunchithiranar (1933–1995), poet and philosopher
• Kannadasan (1927–1981), poet and song lyrics writer
• Vaali (1931–2013), poet and song lyrics writer
• Annamalai Reddiyar, Tamil poet
• Vairamuthu, poet and song lyrics writer
• Pudhumaipithan
• T. K. Doraiswamy ("Nakulan")
• Prof. Karmegha Konar
• P. Vijay, poet who writes song lyrics for films
• Mu. Metha, poet and songwriter
• L. S. Kandasamy
• V. Akilesapillai (1853–1910), Sri Lankan scholar, poet and writer
• Perumal Rasu, poet, writer, painter and spiritual master
• Manushyaputhiran

Telugu

Medieval poets

• Nannaya Bhattaraka, also known as the First Poet "Aadi Kavi", the first poet of the Kavi Trayam, or "Trinity of Poets", that translated Mahabharatamu into Telugu over the course of a few centuries
• Tikkana also called "Tikkana Somayaji" (1205–1288), poet and member of Kavi Trayam
• Errana also known as "Yellapregada" or "Errapregada" (fl. 14th century).
• Gona Budda Reddy – 13th-century poet
• Annamacharya (1408–1503), mystic saint composer of the 15th century, widely regarded as the Telugu pada kavita pitaamaha (grand old man of simple poetry); husband of Tallapaka Tirumalamma
• Sri Krishnadevaraya, Vijayanagar Emperor, Telugu language patron, Telugu language poet
• Allasani Peddana, 15th century poet and known as foremost of Asthadiggajas (Eight elite Telugu poets under Sri Krishnadevaraya)
• Nandi Thimmana, a member of Ashtadiggajas
• Madayyagari Mallana, a member of Ashtadiggajas
• Dhurjati, a member of Ashtadiggajas
• Ayyalaraju Ramambhadrudu, a member of Ashtadiggajas
• Pingali Surana, a member of Ashtadiggajas
• Ramarajabhushanudu, a member of Ashtadiggajas
• Tenali Ramakrishna, poet, scholar, thinker and a special advisor in the court of Sri Krishnadevaraya, nicknamed Vikatakavi
• Molla, also known as "Mollamamba", both popular names of Atukuri Molla (1440–1530), poet who wrote Telugu Ramayan; a woman
• Potana, born Bammera Pothana (1450–1510), poet best known for his translation of the Bhagavata Purana from Sanskrit; the book is popularly known as Pothana Bhagavatham
• Tallapaka Tirumalamma, also known as "Timmakka" and "Thimmakka" (fl. 15th century), poet who wrote Subhadra Kalyanam; wife of singer-poet Annamacharya and was popularly known as Timmakka
• Vemana (fl. 14th century), poet
• Bhadrachala Ramadasu, 17th-century Indian devotee of Lord Rama and a composer of Carnatic music.

Rennaissance poets

• Kandukuri Veeresalingam (1848–1919), social reformer, poet, scholar, founded the journal Vivekavardhani, introduced the essay, biography, autobiography and the novel into Telugu literature
• Gurajada Apparao (1862–1915), poet, writer and playwright who wrote the first Telugu play, Kanyasulkam; also an influential social reformer sometimes called Mahakavi ("the great poet")
• Gurram Jashuva (1895–1971), a dalit poet and writer and producer of All India Radio, awarded "Padma Bhushan" by the Govt of India, known for poetry on social evils
• Sri Sri, Srirangam Srinivasa Rao (1910–1983), marxist poet notable for his work Maha Prasthanam
• Jwalamukhi, pen name of Veeravalli Raghavacharyulu (1938–2008), poet, novelist, writer and political activist
• Viswanatha Satyanarayana (1895–1976), popularly known as the Kavi Samraat ("Emperor of Poetry")
• Balijepalli Lakshmikantham (1881–1953), poet and dramatist
• Chellapilla Venkata Sastry, poet and scholar
• Devulapalli Krishna Sastry (1887–1981), poet and writer of radio plays, known as "Andhra Shelly"
• Devarakonda Balagangadhara Tilak
• Divakarla Tirupati Sastry
• Rayaprolu Subba Rao
• C. R. Reddy

Modern poets

• C. Narayana Reddy (born 1931), poet, academic and songwriter
• Aarudhra, pen name of Bhagavatula Siva Sankara Sastry (1925–1998), author, poet, essayist, writer of stories (including detective stories), playwright, translator, composer of film songs
• Ismail, popular name of Mohammad Ismail (born 1928)
• Suravaram Pratap Reddy, writer and historian from Telangana
• Kethu Viswanatha Reddy, poet from Rayalaseema
• Gunturu Seshendra Sarma (1927–2007), also known as Yuga Kavi
• Papineni Sivasankar, poet and critic from Andhra Pradesh
• Sirivennela Sitaramasastri, popular poet and lyricist
• Ramesh Karthik Nayak, poet who writes in Telugu, Banjara and English from Telangana

Urdu

In alphabetical order by last name:

• Maghfoor Ahmad Ajazi (1900-1966), poet, writer, orator and prominent Indian freedom fighter from Muzaffarpur, Bihar
• Javed Akhtar (born 1945) Eminent lyricist and script writer for movies.
• Mir Babar Ali Anis
• Kaifi Azmi
• Bashir Badr (born 1935), eminent Ghazal writer, winner of Padma Shri, Sangeet Natak Akademi and Sahitya Akademi awards
• Mirza Ghalib (1797-1869), world famous Ghazal writer from Mughal Era
• Raza Naqvi Wahi, poet from Patna, Bihar
• Shahnaz Fatmi (1949–), poet, writer from Patna, Bihar
• Rafiq Husain
• Rahat Indori (1950-2020), famous Bollywood lyricist
• Masud Husain Khan
• Syed Mahmood "Talib" Khundmiri
• Syed Hasnain Raza Naqvi
• Irfan Nasirabadi
• Nazish Pratapgarhi
• Shahzad A. Rizvi (born 1937), author, scholar and poet
• Iftikhar Imam Siddiqui
• Kanwal Ziai
• Mir Taqi Mir
• Quaiser Khalid (1971–), author and poet