Abdul Qavi Desnavi Great Indian Urdu Writer Poet

Abdul Qavi Desnavi was a renowned Indian Urdu language Poet, Writer, Critic and a bibliographer.It would not be an exaggeration if we say that Abdul Qavi had a very powerful role in the evolution of Urdu literature in India.

We can proudly say that many of the present famous poets and academicians have been the disciples of Abdul Qavi. Javed Akhtar and Iqual Masood have been the disciples of Abdul Qavi Desnavi.

Who was Abdul Qavi Desnavi?

Anyone associated would Indian Urdu literature would laugh at this question? As there would be hardly anyone who is not aware with this great name “Abdul Qavi Desnavi”, who worked hard in the evolution of Indian Urdu literature.

Abdul Qavi Desnavi was born on 1 November, 1930 in Desna, Bihar to a Muslim family of Muslim scholar Syed Sulaiman Naqvi. His father, Syed Mohammed Saeed Raza was a professor of Urdu, Persian and Arabic languages and would teach in St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.

Abdul completed his primary education in Arrah town of Bihar, while Graduation and Post-Graduation from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.

The family of Abdul Qavi was a family of scholars and had a great role in Urdu Literature. His two elder brothers, Professor Syed Mohi Raza and Syed Abdul Wali were also professor.

He joined Bhopal’s Saifia Post Graduate College as the head of the Urdu department. He retired from Saifia College in 1990.

Abdul had a great role and contribution in the evolution of Indian Urdu literature and many students would work under his guidance to obtain PhD degree.

Abdul Qavi had written more than 50 books in Urdu literature which were translated to other Indian languages also. Abdul had written many books and mostly known for his books written on few of the famous personalities, Mirza Ghalib(Motala-E-Khotoot Ghalib, 1979), Maulana Abdul Kalam(Hayat-e-Abul Kalam Azad, 2000), Allama Muhammad Iqbal(Talash-E-Azad).

Few other books written by Abdul Qavi are ”Bombay se Bhopal”, “Main Urdu Hoon”, “Mehdi Hasan Afadi”, “Urdu Shayari ki Gyarah Avazein” etc.

Death of Abdul Qavi Desnavi

Abdul Qavi Desnavi died on 7 July, 2011 at the age of 80 years in Bhopal, India.