Quick Facts
Biography
Syed Taqi Hassan Abedi (Urdu: سید تقی حسن عابدی ; born 1 March 1951, Hyderabad, India) is an Indian Canadian physician and literary personality, who is not only a poet but also a scholar of the Urdu language. After obtaining his MBBS degree from Hyderabad, India, he acquired his MS, FCAP and FRCP from the UK, the US, and Canada, respectively. Dr. Abedi is a pathologist and serving physician in a Canadian hospital. He also promotes Urdu literature, both prose and poetry, and is known as a scholar in Urdu literature and reference for critics and research.
Family
Abedi is a syed, descendent from the 4th Imam of Twelver Shi'a Islam, Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin. He is married and has two sons and two daughters. His wife Geeti, born in Iran, inspired her husband to learn Persian.
Education and thesis
- 1975 MBBS from Osmania University, Hyderabad, India
- 1987 MSc,(Pathology) from Glasgow University, U.K
- 1995 FCAP, from Diplomat of the American Board of Pathology, US
- 2001 Fellow of Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Canada
Contribution
Although Dr. Abedi is a physician by profession who has worked in Iran, England, US, and at present in Toronto, Canada, he has written many books on prose, poetry, and criticism. Though most of his literary work is in Urdu and Persian, he has more recently started writing in English.
His research work began in the field of Marsia with Rubais of Mirza Dabeer, compiling lost poetic material. He continued his work in this genre and wrote a number of articles which were published in Urdu literary circles, and has become a well-appreciated literary personality of the American Federation of Muslims of Indian origin. With this forum he extended his field of study and has written about 40 books released by various publishers.
Compilation in Persian literature
Dr. Abedi compiled a two-volume book "Kuliyat-e-Ghalib Farsi" collecting the poetry of Mirza Ghalib in Persian, which was published through Ghalib Institute Delhi. The release ceremony of the book was organised at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU). In his speech at the function Dr. Abedi stated that while Mughal-era writer "Mirza Ghalib" was well known for his poetry in Urdu, he was more inclined towards Persian and composed excellent poems in that language.
In collaboration with Iran's Ministry of Arts and Culture, Indian & Pakistani ambassadors jointly organised a ceremony at Tehran in September 2010 for release of Dr. Abedi's "Kulliyat-e-Ghalib" in Persian. Speaking on the occasion, he pointed out that publishing of Mirza Ghalib's Persian poetry book in Iran would provide a new path for closer relationships between Indo-Iranian literary circles. Referring to Persian poetry by Mirza Dabeer and Mir Anees, he also stated that the unknown feature of Ghalib's Persian poetry was his couplets which were far greater in number than his couplets in Urdu.
Work on Hindu religion Poets
Dr. Abedi has researched poetry in praise of the Prophet and Ahl al-Bayt by various Hindu poets, and compiled some booklets containing Naats, Marsias, Soaz and Salam, like Gopi Nath Aman, Kalidas Gupta Raza and Dalloo Ram Kausari. He especially selected the female Hindu poet "Roop Kunwar Kumari" and highlighted her devotion for Prophet Muhammad; his book on her, "Roop Kunwar Kumari," was published in Multan, Pakistan. It provides a detailed anthology of this female Urdu poet and her undiscovered poetic devotion to Ahl al-Bayt. Dr. Abedi also discusses her mode of expression with Hindised Bhakti terminology in a Persianised style for her poetry in Soaz, Salam and Marsia. This combination of expressive styles distinguished her among her contemporaries. A sample couplet:
Work on Mir Anis and Mirza Dabeer
Dr. Abedi's 500-page book "Kulliyat-e-Anees" consists of 579 Rubais of Mir Anis with a 150-page preface discussing the different aspects of poetry of Anis. Part of his research on Anis was the publication of "Tajzia-e-Yadgar Marsia". The work of Dr. Abedi on Mir Anis was an attempt to trace out the hidden facets of his life, illness, death and behavior with discipline.
He also compiled a book "Rubayat-e-Dabeer" and presented selected collection of Salams and Rubais from the treasury of Mirza Dabeer's poetry. Speaking to a seminar at Karachi he discussed some features of his new compilations containing therein comparison between Anis and Dabeer and also stated that comparative analysis of both these contemporary poets was not new for Urdu literary circle and gave the reference of 100-year-old publication "Mawazna-i-Anees-o-Dabeer" written by Shibli Nomani. Dr. Abedi also provided amazing similarities between the two poets that both had total age of 72 years, born with gape of one year i.e. 1802 and 1803, and died in 1874 and 1875 respectively. Anis and Dabeer were masters of their similar field and they were never disrespectful to one another. However, it was the lifestyle of Lucknow in which we noticed about the people who began to admire Anis and Dabeer according to their own choices but both poets never encouraged the contemporary development and success of grouping.
Work on Poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Although different scholars including Gopi Chand Narang, Shams ur Rahman Faruqi, Shan-ul-Haq Haqqee, Shamim Hanafi, Sajjad Zaheer, etc. have written various articles on different aspects of Faiz, in the compiled book "Faiz Fahmi" consisting of 162 articles in total, in this book 41 articles have been written by Dr. Taqi which discussed undisclosed aspect of Faiz. He also analysed unbiased characters of Faiz thoughts and message by dedicating a chapter "mistakes in Faiz poetry" and a comparison with Josh Malihabadi.
Five articles written by Faiz i.e. (i) progressive literary ideology (ii)Josh as a revolutionary poet (iii)films and culture (iv) Beirut under the Israeli attack, and (v) Lenin Peace Award ceremony, have been incorporated in the Faiz Fahmi. This book is an encyclopedia to understand the theme and work of Faiz, it also contains some rare pictures which provide a background of the scene.
Dr. Taqi Abedi in his book "Faiz fahmi" presented him as a poet whose poetry had remained unstudied. His multiple layered theme and style of poetry suggests that one might obtain Ph.D in his poems. In his book, he negates the views of some writers about no-use of Persian words by Faiz in his poetry and clarified that Faiz had used most Persian words, but the way of applying Persian was much simpler as compared to poet "Muhammad Iqbal". While delivering a lecture on his book "Faiz Fahmi" organized in 2011 at Alhamra Arts Council by Lahore Arts Council, he revealed that 1,800 books have been written on Faiz but it was misfortune that we ourselves never studied and learnt about our Urdu writers and poets. On the other hand, if Faiz were a Persian at least 4000 books might have been written on his subjects and personality. Recently new book "Faiz Shanasi – (knowing Faiz)" by Dr. Taqi has also been published.
Research on Allama Iqbal
While delivering lectures on Allama Iqbal Day at Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, India in October-2009, Dr. Taqi highlighted the "Iqbal Ka Falsafa-e-Ishq" that Iqbal was influenced with Maulana Room and followed his philosophy of "Ishq" in his prose and poetry.
Referring his two Urdu language compilations "Choon Marg Ayed" and "Iqbal Kay Irfani Zaweye" as a keynote speaker on Allama Iqbal Annual Day organized in November 2010 at East-West University, Chicago, Dr. Taqi pointed out that "Javaid Nama" written by Allama Iqbal can be selected and discussed as one of the classic work in line with the importance of books "Gulistan and Diwan-e-Hafiz" by Saadi and "Shahnama" of Firdausi. He also referred the Maulana Room's Masnavi for the same comparison. During his speech he also brought forward that his book "Choon Marg Ayed" (diseases suffered by Allama Iqbal) was published by Iqbal Academy which was established by the Government of Pakistan. In this Book he has composed extracts from the various letters written by Allama Iqbal in order to provide a picture of disease and their impact on the life of Iqbal.
Books written and compiled
Researched based writing and compiling from the 1970s, Dr. Taqi Abedi had over 36 books at his credit. Brief description of his books/compilation/translation is tabulated here under:
| Book's Name and its Page | City and Country of Publication | Work of Scholar/Poet/Writer + Documenting the Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Gulshane Roya | Published in Karachi, Pakistan | |
| Joshe Maodat | Published in Hyderabad, India | |
| Shaheed | Published in Baluchistan, Pakistan | Ayatullah Morteza Motahhari |
| Tajzeye Yadgare Anis | Published in Delhi, India | Mir Anis |
| Ramooz-e-Sha'eri | Published in Lahore, Pakistan | Knowledge can be confined into a book – that is an art(a book on poetry and its tools) |
| Izhar-e-Haq | Published in Toronto, Canada | Poet Fareed Lucknowi–unrecognised flower of Mir Anis legacy |
| Inshaallha Khan Insha | Published in Lahore, Pakistan | Insha Allah Khan 'Insha' |
| Aaroos-e-Sukhan | Published in Lahore, Pakistan | Compilation of Articles (his own), published in the Weekly Urdu Time New YorkWeekly Pakistan Link and Daily Siyasat, India |
| Iqbal Kay Irfani Zaweye | Published in Lahore, Pakistan | Allama Iqbal |
| Mujtahid Nazm Mirza Dabeer | Published in Lahore, Pakistan | Mirza Dabeer |
| Musnuyate Dabeer | Published in Delhi | Mirza Dabeer |
| Abwab-ul-Masa'ib | Published in Delhi | Dabeer |
| Silke Salame Dabeer | Published in Lahore | Mirza Dabeer |
| Mushafe Farsi | Published in Dehli | Work of Dabeer in Persian Language |
| Taleh Mehar | Published in Lahore, Pakistan | Dabeer |
| Kayenate Najm | Published in Delhi | Mirza Tajamul Hussain (alias Najm Afandi) and his |
| Roop Kunwar Kumari | Published in Multan, Pakistan | Female Urdu Poet of Hindu Religion & Devotee of Ahlul-Bayt |
| Adbi Mojeza | Published in Multan, Pakistan | A classical researched collection of Sermon by Ali Ibn Abi Talib Without applying Arabic Alphabet "Alf" in Arabic Language |
| Sabd-e-Sukhan | Published in Delhi,India | 3rd Compilation and Publication of Articles published |
| Ghalib Diwan-e-Naat-o-Manqabat | Published in Dehli,India | Mirza Ghalib |
| Mushaf-e-Taghazzul | Published in Lahore | Mirza Tajamul Hussain (Najm Afendi) |
| Taseere Matam | Published in Multan | Najm Afendi |
| Fikre Mutmayena | Published in Multan | Allama Najm Afendi |
| Durbar-e-Risalat | Published in Lahore | Poetry in praise of Holy Prophet Muhammad |
| Najmi Maya | Published in Multan | Najm Afendi |
| Dure Daryae Najf | Published in Multan | Allama Najm Afendi |
| Zikrye Durbaran | Published in Lahore | Insha Allah Khan 'Insha' |
| Huwal Najm | Published in Multan | Najm Afendi |
| Khosha-e-Anjum | Published in Multan | Najm Afendi |
| Raveshe Inqalab | Published in Multan | Najm Afendi |
Urdu Literature Seminars and workshop
Dr. Taqi Abedi has attended and organised a number of seminars, in addition to his researched lectures at various institutions and universities. Following are some seminars attended by him:
Speeches and Lectures by Dr. Taqi Abedi
Awards
Mir Taqi Mir Award was given to Dr.Taqi Abedi for his many contributions as a critic, author, researcher, poet and active promoter of Urdu in the West. The Mir Taqi Mir Award is handed out each year to a person making outstanding contributions to Urdu language and literature. Besides, he has received several awards(some may be seen at) in India, Pakistan, USA and Canada, presented to him by different institutions/organisations are listed below: