Abdul Qavi Desnavi

Abdul Qavi Desnavi was Indian poet, writer, linguist, critic, and bibliographer. The language of his profession was Urdu. He was born on 1st November 1930 and lived a mesmerizing 80 years of life. Desnavi was born in Desna Village of Nalanda district of Bihar of British India.

His father was Syed Mohammed Saeed Raza, who was himself a Professor of Urdu, Arabic and Persian languages at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. He was born in the house of a Muslim scholar Sulaiman Nadvi, who claimed to be descendant of Muhammad and also was a historian and biographer.

Desnavi had two brothers, the elder one was Professor Syed Mohi Raza, and the younger one was Syed Abdul Wali Desnavi. Desnavi had his primary education from Arrah Town in Bihar and later completed his graduation from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. After his graduation, he joined Safia College, Bhopal as a professor in February 1961 and later, became the Head of Department of Urdu at the Safia College itself.

He was also a member of several national and regional literary bodies. During the flow of his career, he had a great contribution and influence on the development and evolution of Urdu Literature and Academics in India. He had personally mentored some of the great Indian Poets like Javed Akhtar Javed Akhtar is an Indian poet, lyricist, film scr >> Read More... and Iqbal Masood.

Many others who are now poets, scholars and teachers were his students, and many had obtained their Ph.D. degrees under his guidance. On his 87th birthday, Google honored him and celebrated his birth anniversary by showing him as the Google doodle.

In his career of about 50 years, Desnavi has written over 50 Urdu literature book which includes not only poetry but also includes fiction, biographies, and anthologies. Hayat-e-Abdul Kalam Azad was his masterpiece which is based on the life of Maulana Azad, a freedom fighter.

He also has his writings on Mirza Ghalib Mirza Ghalib was a biographical television serial >> Read More... and Allama Muhammad Iqbal. Some of his brilliant inventions include Sat Tahriren, Motala-e-Khotoot Ghalib, Talash-e-Azad. Urdu Shairi Ki Gyarah Aawazein, Bachchon Ka Iqbal, Allama Iqbal Bhopal Main, Ek Shahar Panch Mashahirs and Bhopal Aur Ghalib were some of his major works.

Other books of Desnavi were Nuskha-e-Bhopal Aur Nuskha-e-Bhopal Sani, Iqbal Uneesween Sadi Mein, Iqbal Aur Dilli, Iqbal Aur Darul Iqbal Bhopal, Iqbaliat Ki Talash, Abul Kalam Azad Urdu and Maulana Abul Kalam Mohiuddin Ahmad Azad Dehlavi. After his contribution to the Urdu Literature for the country, Desnavi passed away on 7th July 2011.