Umrao Jaan Ada ( اُمراؤ جان ادا ) is an Urdu novel by Mirza Hadi Ruswa (1857–1931), first published in 1899.[1] It is considered the first Urdu novel by many[2] and tells the story of a courtesan and poet by the same name from 19th century Lucknow, as recounted by her to the author.