Tabish Mehdi

{{Infobox person

| name = Tabish Mehdi

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| pseudonym =

| birth_name = Mehdi Hasan Tabish

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1951|07|03}}

| birth_place = Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2025|01|22|1951|07|03}}

| death_place = Delhi, India

| occupation = Poet, critic, journalist, writer

| nationality = Indian

| education = Tajweed and Qira'at
M.A. (Urdu)
Ph.D.

| alma_mater = Agra University
Jamia Millia Islamia

| period =

| movement = Jamaat-e-Islami Hind

| notable_works =

| spouse = {{marriage |Razia Usmani|18 May 1979}}

| children =

| relatives =

| awards =

| years_active = 1971–2025

}}

Tabish Mehdi (3 July 1951 – 22 January 2025) was an Indian poet specialising in naʽat, a literary critic, journalist, and author who made contributions to Urdu literature.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=16 December 2015 |title=IUS to host 'mushaira' to mark National Day |url=https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/16/12/2015/IUS-to-host-%E2%80%98mushaira%E2%80%99-to-mark-National-Day |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=The Peninsula |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2 November 2016 |title=تابش مہدی کا نعتیہ کلام دلوں کو مسرت بخشتا ہے، مقررین |trans-title=Tabish Mehdi's na`atiya poetry brings joy to hearts, say speakers |url=https://jang.com.pk/news/207258-todays-print |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=Daily Jang |language=ur}}{{Cite web |last=Idrees |first=Muhammad |date=27 March 2018 |title=دیارِ غیر میں وطن کی یادیں! |trans-title=Memories of the Homeland in a Foreign Land! |url=https://dailypakistan.com.pk/27-Mar-2018/754193 |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=Daily Pakistan |language=ur}}{{Cite web |last= |date=20 January 2023 |title=Urdu literary forum launches book |url=https://www.gulf-times.com/article/653723/community/culture/urdu-literary-forum-launches-book |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=Gulf Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=19 January 2023 |title=Bazm-e-Urdu launches Qatar resident Sulaiman Dehlvi's book in Urdu |url=https://www.qatar-tribune.com/article/44950/nation/bazm-e-urdu-launches-qatar-resident-sulaiman-dehlvis-book-in-urdu |access-date=24 January 2025 |website=Qatar Tribune |language=en}} His literary career spanned several decades, during which he worked in the fields of poetry, literary criticism, and research. His writings have been described by some commentators as reflecting intellectual depth and creativity.{{Cite web |last=Manzar |first=Umair |date=9 December 2024 |title=Dr. Tabish Mehdi's Poetry – A Chronicle of Life's Challenges |trans-title=ڈاکٹر تابش مہدی کی شاعری-مسائل زندگی کا صحیفہ |url=https://www.urdu.awazthevoice.in/opinion-news/dr-tabish-mehdi-s-poetry-the-book-of-life-s-problems-43105.html |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=Awaz – The Voice |language=ur}}{{Cite web |last=Qasmi |first=Abdul Bari |date=26 June 2022 |title=Ghazal Khwani Nahin Jati |trans-title=غزل خوانی نہیں جاتی |url=https://qindeelonline.com/ghazal-khwani-nahin-jati-abdul-bari-qasmi/ |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=Qindeel |language=ur}} Mehdi's work has been acknowledged for its role in Urdu literary circles.{{Cite journal |last=Fakhiri |first=Āfaq |date=February 1991 |editor-last=Falahi |editor-first=Abdul Aziz Salfi |title=Tabish Mehdi ki Ghazalgoi |trans-title=Ghazal poetry by Tabish Mehdi |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/islamic-movement-shumara-number-002-abdul-azeez-salfi-falahi-magazines |journal=Monthly Islamic Movement |language=ur |location=Delhi |volume=9 |issue=2 |page=14}}{{cite journal |last=Hussain |first=Saddam |date=December 2024 |editor1-last=Kamal |editor1-first=Kulshrestha |editor2-last=Parween |editor2-first=Farhat |title=Shahbaz Amrohi Ki Tanz-o-Mazah Nigari Ka Umumi Jaiza |url= |journal=Monthly Ajkal |language=ur |location=New Delhi |publisher=Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India) |volume=83 |issue=5 |page=48}}{{cite journal |editor1-last=Bhatt|editor1-first=R.K|editor2-last=Alam|editor2-first=Firoz|date=February 2006 |title=Urdu Khabar Nama|url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/detail/urdu-duniya-new-delhi-002-r-k-bhatt-magazines|journal=Monthly Urdu Duniya|language=ur|volume=8|issue=2|location=New Delhi |publisher=National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language |page=71}}{{Cite book |last=Ahmad |first=Irfan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EIg_DwAAQBAJ&dq=tabish+mehdi&pg=PA264 |title=Religion as Critique: Islamic Critical Thinking from Mecca to the Marketplace |date=20 November 2017 |publisher=UNC Press Books |isbn=978-1-4696-3510-1 |pages=243 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Narang |first=Gopi Chand |author-link=Gopi Chand Narang |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/urdu-ghazal-aur-hindustani-zahen-o-tahzeeb-gopi-chand-narang-ebooks |title=Urdu Ghazal aur Hindustani Zahen-o-Tehzeeb |date=July 2002 |publisher=NCPUL |edition=1st |location=New Delhi |pages=23–24 |language=ur}}

Early life and education

Tabish Mehdi was born on 3 July 1951 in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India.{{Sfn|Farooqi|2012|p=18}} He completed his Junior Primary School examination in 1964 from District Board Pratapgarh. In 1966 and 1967, he studied Tajwīd and Qirā'at al-Sab'a at Madrasa Subhania, Allahabad, and Madrasa Taleem-ul-Quran, Hasanpur, Moradabad, respectively. {{Sfn|Farooqi|2012|p=18}}{{Cite web |date=22 January 2025 |title=معروف شاعر و ادیب تابش مہدی کا 74؍سال کی عمر میں انتقال، اردو حلقہ سوگوار |trans-title=Renowned Poet and Writer Tabish Mehdi Passes Away at Age of 74, Urdu Community Mourns |url=https://www.inquilab.com/news/articles/tabish-mehdi-renowned-poet-and-writer-passes-away-at-age-of-74-urdu-community-mourns-72001 |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=The Inquilab |language=ur}}

In 1970, he passed the Maulvi (Arabic) examination from the Arabic and Persian Board, Allahabad. In 1978 and 1980, he passed the Munshi (Persian) and Kamil (Persian) examinations, respectively. In 1971, he obtained the Aalim-e-Deeniyat (Urdu) degree from Jamia Deeniyat, Deoband, and in 1977 and 1985, he earned the Adeeb-e-Mahir and Adeeb-e-Kamil (Urdu) qualifications from Jamia Urdu, Aligarh. Finally, in 1989, he completed an M.A. in Urdu from Agra University, and in 1997, he earned a Ph.D. in Urdu criticism from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi.{{Cite web |last=Arshi |first=Syed Alqama |date=22 January 2025 |title=ڈاکٹر تابش مہدی (1951ء – 2025ء): مختصر سوانحی خاکہ |trans-title=Dr. Tabish Mehdi (1951–2025): A Brief Biographical Sketch |url=https://deobandonline.com/ur/archives/4594 |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=Deoband Online |language=ur}}

His literary mentors included Shahbaz Amrohi (disciple of Afaq Kazmi), Bilali Aliabadi (disciple of Shafiq Jaunpuri), Sarosh Machhlishahri (student of Arzoo Lakhnavi), Abu-al-Wafa Arif Shahjahanpuri (disciple of Riyaz Khairabadi), and Amir Usmani.

Career

= Teaching career =

In July 1971, Mehdi began his teaching career at Abul Kalam Azad College, Pratapgarh, where he served until July 1973. From January 1974 to June 1978, he taught at Darul Uloom Amroha. Later, he worked as a teacher at Jamiatul Falah Arabic College, Bilariaganj, Azamgarh, from June 1986 to April 1990. From April 2018 until his death, he taught Tajwīd and Qirā'at at the Islamic Academy, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Delhi.

= Journalism =

Mehdi served as the editor of several publications, including the fortnightly Paigham-e-Haq (Pratapgarh), Ijtima (Deoband), and Al-Iman (Deoband). He was also an associate editor for magazines such as Gul Kada (Sahaswan, Budaun), Zikra (Rampur), Tajalli (Deoband), Zindagi-e-Nau (New Delhi), and Aiwan-e-Urdu (Delhi Urdu Academy). Additionally, he worked as a guest editor for Kitab Numa (Delhi).

From April 2002 until his death, he was a member of the editorial board of Peshraft (Delhi), and from January 2005 onwards, he served as an honorary advisor and editorial board member for the quarterly Karwan-e-Adab (Lucknow).{{Cite journal|last=Ahmed|first=Khursheed|date=February 2013|title=کتاب نما |trans-title=Kitab Numa |url=https://www.tarjumanulquran.org/articles/feb-2013-kitaab-numa|journal=Monthly Al-Tarjuman-ul-Quran|language=ur|publisher=Al-Balagh Trust|pages=99–100}}

= Affiliation with academic and literary institutions =

From June 1991 to 3 July 2009, Mehdi worked as an editor at Markazi Maktaba Islami Publishers, New Delhi. He was a founding member of Abul Kalam Azad Inter College (Pratapgarh) and Idara Adab-e-Islami Hind. He was also a member of the Islamic Literary Society (India) and Darul Dawah Educational Foundation (Delhi). Additionally, he served as the chairman of Adabiat-e-Aaliya Academy (Lucknow), a former vice-president of Idara Adab-e-Islami Hind, and an honorary advisor and editorial board member of the quarterly Karwan-e-Adab (Lucknow).

Awards and honours

Mehdi was honored with several awards for his literary and scholarly contributions. Notable among them are the "Hazrat Hassan Award" (2005) by All India Hamd-o-Naat Academy, Delhi; "Shan-e-Adab Award" (2011) by Bazm-e-Adab, Deoband; "Nishan-e-Urdu" (2013) by Urdu Academy, Nepal; "Rasikh Azimabadi Award" (2013) by Bihar Urdu Academy, Patna; "Zia Fatehabadi Award" (2014) by Mehr Foundation, Maharashtra; "Fareevai Award" (2014) by Fareevai Academy, Allahabad; Award for Urdu Poetry (2015) by Urdu Academy, Delhi; National Integration Award with the title of Iftikhar-e-Adab (2021) by Bazm-e-Urdu, Sitapur; and the "Allama Iqbal Award" for Poetry and Literature (2021) by Urdu Development Organization of India.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=4 October 2021 |title=Poet Dr. Tabish Mehdi to be honored on Urdu Day |url=https://roznamakhabrein.com/poet-dr-tabish-mehdi-will-be-honored-on-urdu-day/ |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=Roznama Khabrein |language=ur}}{{Cite web |date=4 October 2021 |title=उर्दू दिवस पर शायर डॉ ताबिश मेहदी को पुरस्कृत किया जाएगा |trans-title=Poet Dr. Tabish Mehdi to be awarded on Urdu Day |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/india/poet-dr-tabish-mehdi-to-be-rewarded-on-urdu-day/articleshow/86755649.cms |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=Navbharat Times |language=hi}} Additionally, he was recognized by the academies of Bengal, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and various local institutions for his books. All India Radio's Urdu Service, Urdu Majlis, Doordarshan, Jain TV, Sahara TV, and Zee Salaam frequently invited him to present his work.{{Sfn|Farooqi|2012|pp=267–269}}{{Cite web |date=16 October 2016 |title=AWARDS |url=https://www.milligazette.com/news/1-community-news/14858-awards/ |access-date=24 January 2025 |website=The Milli Gazette |language=en}}

Literary works

Mehdi wrote several works in poetry, criticism, and analytical writing,{{Sfn|Farooqi|2012|pp=40–44}} including Abūlmujāhid Zāhid: fikr aur fan, Kankar bolte hen̲: shiʻrī majmūʻah, Muʻallim-i insāniyat ṣallalláhu ʻalaihi va sallam, Naqd-i g̲h̲azal, Rabāb Rashīdī: ek suk̲h̲an var piyārā sā, Shafīq Jaunpūrī, ek mut̤ālaʻah (2002), Ṣubḥ-i ṣādiq: ḥamd, naʻt, manqabat, Tasawwuf yeh hai!, T̤ūbá and Urdū tanqīd kā safar: Jāmiʻah Milliyah Islāmiyah ke tanāẓur men̲.{{cite web |title=Mahdī, Tābish |url=https://viaf.org/en/viaf/41148175 |website=viaf.org}} His other publications include:{{Cite journal|date=April–June 2022|editor-last=Iqbal|editor-first=Muhammad Arif|title=ڈاکٹر تابش مہدی (نئی دہلی)|trans-title=Dr. Tabish Mehdi (New Delhi)|url=https://urdubookreview.in/resala/10/|journal=Quarterly Urdu Book Review|language=ur|location=Patodi House, Daryaganj, New Delhi|publisher=Urdu Book Review Office|volume=28|issue=29–30|page=28}}

Naqsh-e-Awwal (1971)
Lama‘at-e-Haram (1975)
Ta‘beer (1989)
Jamaat-e-Islami Haqeeqat ke Aaine Mein (1981)
Sall-e-Ala Sall-e-Ala (1992)
Urdu Tanqeed Ka Safar (1999)
Woh Galiyan Yaad Aati Hain (2007)
Hali, Shibli aur Iqbal (2017)
Mu'allim-e-Insāniyat (2019)
Mutshid-e-Thānwi (2019)
Ghazal Khwani Nahin Jati (2020)

Personal life and death

On 18 May 1979, Mehdi married Razia Usmani, the granddaughter of calligrapher Ishtiaq Ahmad Usmani and the daughter of Mumtaz Ahmad Usmani, from Deoband. The couple had seven children, including two sons, Shah Danish Farooq Falahi and Shah Ajmal Farooq Nadwi, and four daughters, Sameena Tabish Salehati, Tooba Kausar Salehati, Yamna Kulsoom, and Naeema Kulsoom.{{Sfn|Farooqi|2012|pp=34–36}}{{Cite web |date=22 January 2025 |title=نہیں رہے شاعر- نثر نگار اور مبصر ڈاکٹر تابش مہدی |trans-title=Poet, prose writer, and commentator Dr. Tabish Mehdi is no more |url=https://www.urdu.awazthevoice.in/opinion-news/poet-prose-writer-and-commentator-dr-tabish-mehdi-is-no-more-44279.html |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=Awaz the Voice |language=ur}}

Mehdi died in Delhi on 22 January 2025, at the age of 73.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=22 January 2025 |title=معروف شاعر، ادیب و محقق ڈاکٹر تابش مہدی دہلی میں انتقال کر گئے |trans-title=Renowned poet, writer, and researcher Dr. Tabish Mehdi passed away in Delhi |url=https://www.jasarat.com/2025/01/22/dr-tabish-mehdi-passed-away/ |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=Daily Jasarat |language=ur}}

References

= Citations =

= Bibliography =

{{cite book|last1=Farooqi|first1=Shujauddin|title=Tabish Mehdi: Ek Safar Musalsal|trans-title=Tabish Mehdi: A Continuous Journey|url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/detail/tabish-mehdi-ek-safar-musalsal-shujauddin-faruqii-ebooks|edition=First|year=2012|location=Hamza Academy, New Sir Syed Nagar, Aligarh|publisher=Maulana Mubeenuddin Farooqi Academy|language=ur|via=Rekhta (website)}}