Abdul Qavi Desnavi

Abdul Qavi Desnavi was an Indian Urdu language writer, critic, bibliographer and linguist. He wrote many books on Urdu literature. His works included about Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Mirza Ghalib and Allama Muhammad Iqbal. He was awarded with several awards for his literary works.

Early life

Desnavi was born in village Desna of block Asthawan in Nalanda district Bihar. to the family of
Muslim scholar Sulaiman Nadvi, who claimed to be descended from and who was a recognized historian and biographer of Muhammad. Desnavi was the son of Syed Mohammed Saeed Raza, who was Professor of Urdu, Arabic and Persian languages in St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. Desnavi had two brothers, elder Prof. Syed Mohi Raza and younger Syed Abdul Wali Desnavi.
Many scholars, poets, and teachers of today were his students in Bhopal, and several other students obtained PhD degree under his guidance. He died on 7 July 2011 in Bhopal, India.

Career

Desnavi got his primary education in Arrah town of Bihar state. He completed his Graduation and Post Graduation in First from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. He joined Urdu department in Saifia Post Graduate College in February 1961. He became Professor and Head of the Urdu department of Saifia College.
He held various positions, such as:

Additional Principal of Saifia Post Graduate College, Bhopal..
Secretary of Madhya Pradesh Urdu Academy, Bhopal,.
Elected Member Majlis E Aam Anjuman Taraqqui Urdu, New Delhi.
Member of All India Anjuman Taraqui Urdu Board, New Delhi,.
Member of Program Advisory Committee, All India Radio, Bhopal.
Member Executive Council, Barkatullah University Bhopal,.
Chairman of Board of Studies, Urdu, Persian & Arabic, Barkatullah University Bhopal, and.
Dean Faculty of Arts, Barkatullah University Bhopal,.
Member Working Committee, Taj-ul-Masajid, Bhopal

He has over 50 books under his name, some of which are:

Bhopal aur Ghalib
Motala-E-Khotoot Ghalib
Talesh-E_Azad
Ek Shahar Panch Mashahirs
Hayat-e-Abul Kalam Azad

Legacy

On 1 November 2017, Google showed a Google Doodle in honouring Desnavi's 87th birthday. Doodle depicts Abdul Qavi Desnavi at his work, the logo stylized in Urdu-style script. As the head of the Urdu Department at Bhopal’s Saifia College and a member of several regional and national literary bodies, he exerted a powerful influence on the evolution of Urdu literature and academic thought in India.