Google has dedicated its latest doodle in memory of Abdul Qavi Desnavi - the 20th-century critic from Bhopal whose writings challenged the dominant forms in Urdu literature encouraging authors to experiment in other styles. Born on November 1, 1940, Desnavi is remembered for being an important catalyst in bringing about a paradigm shift in Urdu through his critical writings on Urdu poetry thus creating space for prose and other forms in literary circles.
His son-in-law and retired Urdu professor of NCERT Mohammad Noaman Khan told News 18.com that Desnavi’s work in Urdu focused on research. “Bhopal was a place of poetry, wahan par she o shayari ka zor tha but with his critical writings nasr ka silisila shuru hua (Prose writing was initiated by him)." Desnavi wrote over 30 books with major work on Allama Iqbal, Mirza Ghalib, Abdul Kalam Azad.
“He considered them his ideal and wrote a 900-page book on Azad. He was influenced by Iqbal and Azad and used their life stories to keep the youth in his class inspired. He picked up instances from Azad’s life to instil hubbul watani (love for country) in students, he was touched by the fact that Azad spent ten years in jail, even Mahatma Gandhi did not spend so much tie in jail." added Khan.
At the time of Partition, Khan recalls Desnavi often narrated Azad’s speech in Jama Masjid, in a vain attempt to discourage people from leaving for Pakistan. Desnavi was a professor and head of the Urdu department in Saifia College in Bhopal till 1990. He is believed to have mentored poets and writers like Javed Akhtar and Iqbal Masood.
Desnavi’s father, Syed Mohammed Saeed Raza was a professor of Urdu, Arabic and Persian languages in St Xavier’s College, Mumbai. Desnavi’s books have been published Khuda Baksh Library, UP Urdu Academy, Maharashtra Urdu Academy, a government-owned publishing house of Pakistan Iqbal Academy. His biggest contribution in Urdu writing is to create ishariya saazi or index of works by famous Urdu authors like Munshi Premchand, Mir Anees and Mirza Salamat Ali Khan.
Khan said that Desnavi’s tehqeeq (research) work was popular with Urdu connoisseurs and writers.
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