He was one of the earliest disciples of Seemab Akbarabadi (1882–1951) and was a recipient of the third highest Indian honour of the Padma Bhushan, in 1969, for his contributions to literature.
His father, Sardar Ahmed Yar Khan, was a medical doctor in the service of the British government of India.
Years later, Yusuf Hussain, Editor of Nairang e Khayal was to class Ahsan Danish, Saghar Nizami and Mehr Lal Soni Zia Fatehabadi as the three bright stars (of Urdu poetry) of the modern era.
[4] During his lifetime he published six collections of ghazals and nazms: Subuhi (1934), Badah e mashriq (1934), Kahkashaan (1934), Rangmahal (1943), Mauj e saahil (1949) and Nehrunama (1967).
[5] Just as Kundan Lal Saigal had done for Seemab Akbarabadi so did Master Madan (1923–1942)[6] by singing Yoon na reh reh kar hamen tersaaiye and Hairat se tak raha hai jahan e wafa mujhe, the two ghazals written by Saghar Nizami, made Saghar Nizami well known; the music for these ghazals was composed by Pandit Amarnath.