Dr. Tanveer Ahmed Alvi
We earlier reported that Dr. Tanveer Ahmed Alvi was selected for Bahadur Shah Zafar Award, here is a profile of the man and his work for Urdu.
http://www.urdustan.net/2005/01/bahadur-shah-zafar-award-for-2004.html
Urdu is considered one of the sweetest languages of the world. It is spoken by about 104 million people around the globe. Its birth was the direct result of the synthesis between the invading armies of Mahmud of Ghazni with the civilian population of Indian cities. The word Urdu itself means "Lashkar", derived from the Turkish language meaning armies. The people of Delhi have called it "Delhvi" or "Urdu-e-Mualla". There are various theories where exactly it was born. One theory is that it originated in "basti" of Nazamuddin of Nizamuddin Aulia and Amir Khusrau.
It is a language full of beauty and grace, as if, tailormade for literature. For generations, Urdu has been closely associated with the man on the street and his emotions. That was, perhaps, the reason why in course of time Urdu emerged as a popular lingo. Urdu produced many scholars and literary figures. Many excelled, acquired name and fame while some remained little noticed. There were a few who just withered away because they did not get the type of patronage they should have. Recipient of Urdu Academy's prestigious Bahadur Shah Zafar Award for 2004, announced last week, Dr Tanveer Ahmed Alvi is one less noticed litterateur and scholar.
In his late seventies, Dr Alvi lives in a rented house in "Chuddiwalan" in the Walled city of Delhi, not very far from the "haveli" of the Mirza Ghalib. He has done extensive research on every aspect of the celebrated poet's work and translated Ghalib's Persian letters into Urdu. His critical analysis has thrown new light on Ghalib's poetry, say critics.
Ailing currently, Dr Alvi spoke to this columnist, talking about his work and life . "I am happy to have received the Bahadur Shah Jafar Award for which I express my gratitude to my friends and well wishers". Though indisposed, he has been able to complete six or seven books and currently revising them before they are sent to the press.
The new books include - "Traditions of Urdu Poetry", "Ghalib's Persian poems" and "Our Cultural heritage in South West Asia". His yet to be published work relates to culture, history, Sufism, literature and religious studies.
Dr Alvi never tried to project himself, never hankered after money or talked about his voluminous work but dedicatedly and silently pursued his literary work. He simultaneously taught Urdu at Delhi University for about four decades with a brief stint at Jammia Millia, says Meem Afzal, Vice-Chairman of Urdu Academy, and a student of Dr Alvi. He never canvassed for himself and, possibly, that was the reason that he could not become Professor in the Urdu Department and retired as Reader.
Afzal says that Dr Alvi has been "a living encyclopaedia of Urdu literature" and his students virtually adored him. "The urge to learn is never ending in him and he is inquisitive like a child".
A former Member of Parliament of leftist leaning, Meem Afzal recalls: "Years back, Dr Alvi asked me to define the concept of communism for him and what this ideology stands for. It took a long time for me to explain to him what socialism and communism stood for, its evolution and objective. It is for the amelioration of the living standards of the toiling masses. Dr Alvi was finally impressed and said any young man will be impressed by these high sounding concepts". Those were the days when socialism had become a craze with young men in India.
Initially, Dr Alvi began writing in contemporary Urdu newspapers and periodicals and became a versatile writer, critic and poet. He is not only a scholar in Urdu but well versed in Persian and Hindi too. An area where he has excelled concerns work of Sufi poets, historical and cultural background of Sufism. So much so that he has come to be known as an authority on Sufi literature.
Among his notable work is translation of a Perisan book into Urdu, acquired from Shah Alam Sani, great grandson of Bahadur Shah Jafar. The book is about Mughal history and last emperor of the Mughal dynasty.
Another book is about Jehanarrah, daughter of emperor Shahjahan. Dr Alvi's translation of Khusrau's work in Hindi — "Mahakavya" — is a valuable document and widely appreciated. "My Hindi is quite update", he says.
Rare are persons like Dr Alvi. The Urdu Academy has done a commendable work by honouring him.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050109/edit.htm#3
http://www.urdustan.net/2005/01/bahadur-shah-zafar-award-for-2004.html
Urdu is considered one of the sweetest languages of the world. It is spoken by about 104 million people around the globe. Its birth was the direct result of the synthesis between the invading armies of Mahmud of Ghazni with the civilian population of Indian cities. The word Urdu itself means "Lashkar", derived from the Turkish language meaning armies. The people of Delhi have called it "Delhvi" or "Urdu-e-Mualla". There are various theories where exactly it was born. One theory is that it originated in "basti" of Nazamuddin of Nizamuddin Aulia and Amir Khusrau.
It is a language full of beauty and grace, as if, tailormade for literature. For generations, Urdu has been closely associated with the man on the street and his emotions. That was, perhaps, the reason why in course of time Urdu emerged as a popular lingo. Urdu produced many scholars and literary figures. Many excelled, acquired name and fame while some remained little noticed. There were a few who just withered away because they did not get the type of patronage they should have. Recipient of Urdu Academy's prestigious Bahadur Shah Zafar Award for 2004, announced last week, Dr Tanveer Ahmed Alvi is one less noticed litterateur and scholar.
In his late seventies, Dr Alvi lives in a rented house in "Chuddiwalan" in the Walled city of Delhi, not very far from the "haveli" of the Mirza Ghalib. He has done extensive research on every aspect of the celebrated poet's work and translated Ghalib's Persian letters into Urdu. His critical analysis has thrown new light on Ghalib's poetry, say critics.
Ailing currently, Dr Alvi spoke to this columnist, talking about his work and life . "I am happy to have received the Bahadur Shah Jafar Award for which I express my gratitude to my friends and well wishers". Though indisposed, he has been able to complete six or seven books and currently revising them before they are sent to the press.
The new books include - "Traditions of Urdu Poetry", "Ghalib's Persian poems" and "Our Cultural heritage in South West Asia". His yet to be published work relates to culture, history, Sufism, literature and religious studies.
Dr Alvi never tried to project himself, never hankered after money or talked about his voluminous work but dedicatedly and silently pursued his literary work. He simultaneously taught Urdu at Delhi University for about four decades with a brief stint at Jammia Millia, says Meem Afzal, Vice-Chairman of Urdu Academy, and a student of Dr Alvi. He never canvassed for himself and, possibly, that was the reason that he could not become Professor in the Urdu Department and retired as Reader.
Afzal says that Dr Alvi has been "a living encyclopaedia of Urdu literature" and his students virtually adored him. "The urge to learn is never ending in him and he is inquisitive like a child".
A former Member of Parliament of leftist leaning, Meem Afzal recalls: "Years back, Dr Alvi asked me to define the concept of communism for him and what this ideology stands for. It took a long time for me to explain to him what socialism and communism stood for, its evolution and objective. It is for the amelioration of the living standards of the toiling masses. Dr Alvi was finally impressed and said any young man will be impressed by these high sounding concepts". Those were the days when socialism had become a craze with young men in India.
Initially, Dr Alvi began writing in contemporary Urdu newspapers and periodicals and became a versatile writer, critic and poet. He is not only a scholar in Urdu but well versed in Persian and Hindi too. An area where he has excelled concerns work of Sufi poets, historical and cultural background of Sufism. So much so that he has come to be known as an authority on Sufi literature.
Among his notable work is translation of a Perisan book into Urdu, acquired from Shah Alam Sani, great grandson of Bahadur Shah Jafar. The book is about Mughal history and last emperor of the Mughal dynasty.
Another book is about Jehanarrah, daughter of emperor Shahjahan. Dr Alvi's translation of Khusrau's work in Hindi — "Mahakavya" — is a valuable document and widely appreciated. "My Hindi is quite update", he says.
Rare are persons like Dr Alvi. The Urdu Academy has done a commendable work by honouring him.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050109/edit.htm#3
1 Comments:
Salaam Alaikum:
As fellow travelers, may I commend to you my book, Master of the Jinn: A Sufi Novel. It has been translated and published in Russia, and will soon, inshallah, be translated and published in Indonesia, into Bahasa, the national language. And one day, inshallah, into Urdu :)
You can view the book and read an excerpt at http://www.masterofthejinn.com
Please pass on the link to anyone you think might be interested.
In the Name of the Most Merciful, 10% of all profits go to charity.
Ya Haqq,
Irving
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