Famous Urdu poet, writer, journalist, critic, and educator, Dr Tabish Mehdi, is no more. A resident of Abul Fazal Enclave, he was unwell and hospitalised in a Max Hospital, according to a local resident. He said he will be laid to rest at Shaheen Bagh graveyard at 5 pm today.
Dr Tabish Mehdi’s demise marks the end of an era in Urdu literature and journalism, said Nasim-Ur Rehman.
His profound contributions to Urdu poetry, criticism, and education have left an indelible mark, inspiring generations to come, he said, adding his legacy lives on through his vast contributions to poetry, criticism, education, and journalism, inspiring generations to come.
As he is laid to rest today, the Urdu literary world mourns the loss of a true luminary.
Dr Tabish Mehdi was born on July 3, 1951, in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh. He completed his Junior Primary School examination in 1964 from the District Board in Pratapgarh. He showed an early interest in Islamic studies and pursued Tajweed and Qira’at Sab’a from Madrasa Subhaniya, Allahabad, and Madrasa Taleem-ul-Quran, Hasanpur, Moradabad, in 1966 and 1967, respectively.
He earned a Maulvi (Arabic) certification in 1970 and later achieved qualifications in Munshi (Persian) in 1978 and Kamil (Persian) in 1980 from the Arabic and Persian Board, Allahabad. He also obtained certifications in Urdu, including Alam Diniyat from Jamia Diniyat, Deoband, in 1971, and Adeeb Mahir and Adeeb Kamil from Jamia Urdu, Aligarh, in 1977 and 1985. His academic achievements culminated with an MA in Urdu from Agra University in 1989 and a PhD in Urdu Criticism from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, in 1997.
Dr Tabish Mehdi’s literary talents were nurtured under esteemed mentors like Shahbaz Amrohi, Bilali Aliabadi, Sarosh Machhli Shehri, Abu Al-Wafa Arif Shahjahanpuri, and Aamir Osmani. On May 18, 1979, he married Razia Osmani, a descendant of the celebrated calligrapher Ishtiaq Ahmed Osmani. They had six children: Two sons, Shah Danish Farooq Falahi and Shah Ajmal Farooq Nadwi, and four daughters, Sameena Tabish Salahati, Tooba Kauser Salahati, Yamna Kulsoom, and Naima Kulsoom.
Dr Tabish began his teaching career in 1971 at Abul Kalam Azad College, Pratapgarh, where he worked until 1973. He also taught at Darul Uloom Amroha from 1974 to 1978 and at Jamia Al-Falah, Azamgarh, from 1986 to 1990. Since 2018, he had been teaching at the Islamic Academy, Markaz Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Delhi, specializing in Tajweed and Qira’at.
Dr Tabish’s journalism career was equally remarkable. He edited periodicals such as Payam-e-Haq (Pratapgarh), Ijtima (Deoband), and Al-Eman (Deoband) and worked as an associate editor for Gul Kada (Budaun), Zikra (Rampur), Tajalli (Deoband), Zindagi Nau (Delhi), and Awan-e-Urdu (Delhi Urdu Academy). He also contributed to Peshraft (Delhi) and Karwan-e-Adab (Lucknow) and served as a guest editor for Kitabnama (Delhi).
Dr Tabish also played an important role at Maktaba Islami Publishers, New Delhi, as an editor from 1991 to 2009. He was a founding member of Abul Kalam Azad Inter College, Pratapgarh, and Idara-e-Adab-e-Islami Hind. He was associated with organizations like the All India Literary Association, Aligarh, and the Dar-ul-Dawah Educational Foundation, Delhi.
Dr Tabish Mehdi was a prolific author, publishing 55 works. His notable poetry collections include “Naqsh-e-Awwal” (1971), “Lama’at-e-Haram” (1975), “Sarood-e-Hijaz” (1977), “Tabir” (1989), “Salsabil” (2000), “Kankar Bolte Hain” (2005), “Subh-e-Sadiq” (2008), “Tuba” (2012), “Ghazaal Nama” (2011), “Mushk-e-Ghazalan” (2014), “Rehmat Tamam” (2018), “Ghazaal Khwani Nahi Jaati” (2020), and “Dana-e-Sabil” (2023). His critical works include “Molana Manzoor Nomani Ki Tasveer” (1980), “Jamaat-e-Islami Haqeeqat Ke Aaine Mein” (1981), “Tablighi Nisaab – Ek Mutaliah” (1983), “Tablighi Jamaat Apne Bani Ke Malfoozat Ke Aaine Mein” (1985), “Urdu Tanqeed Ka Safar” (1999), “Nakad-e-Ghazal” (2005), and “Tanqeed Wa Tarseel” (2011). He also authored a travelogue, “Woh Galiyan Yaad Aati Hain” (2007).
Dr Tabish’s contributions were widely recognised, earning him awards like the Hasan Award (2005) and others.
