Forum Pakistan

Abbasi, Tanvir, Dr (1934-99)
Writer. A medical doctor by profession, Tanvir Abbasi was one of the most versatile and accomplished literary luminaries of the *Sindhi language. In poetry, he wrote in every form, "nazm, *ghazal and *geet; in prose he wrote literary criticism, travelogues, character sketches, memoirs, and fiction. Tanvir Abbasi was an author involved in contemporary issues and submerged in classical lore. He began composing poetry during the time the Sindhi intelligentsia were protesting against the imposition of One Unit. Since Sindh's identity had become an issue, Abbasi began addressing Shah Abdul Latif *Bhitai in his poems. This evocation of the Bhitai personae gave his symbolism a perspective not found in the works of other poets of the time.

Ideologically a progressive writer, Tanvir Abbasi nevertheless took to ghazal, bringing about some innovations in the form. Although it is as a poet that he is best known, his contribution to prose, especially literary criticism, is also commendable. His works on the classical greats such as Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai and Sachal *Sarmast are well known. In addition, his essays in Narwar show him at his best as a prose stylist. He has also written in the pattern of Japanese Haiku poems.

Source Encyclopedia Of Pakistan