The Tazkra Shanasi of Dr Irfan Abbasi

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Abstract

Dr. Irfan Abbasi is a well-known Tazkira Nigar  of Urdu literature.When his Tazkira Nigari gained popularity and recognition, he began to contact poets from all over the country where Uttar Pradesh poets were present, and started collecting their biographical introductions and sample poetry. In this way, he compiled sketches and Tazkiras such as “Aap”, “Aap Hain”, “Aap The”, and "Shuara-e-Uttar Pradesh". “Aap” contains sketches and Tazkiras of fifty deceased poets related to the Lucknow School. “Aap Hain” contains biographical references, poetry, and pictures of existing poets from Uttar Pradesh. “Aap The” contains sketches and Tazkiras of poets from the towns of Awadh. Then the series of “Shuara-e-Uttar Pradesh” continues further. Approximately thirty-two volumes have been published, each containing fifty poets’ Tazkiras.

Dr. Abbasi’s work in compiling authentic biographies, personal characteristics, selected poetry, birth and death years, as well as pictures of poets is of great importance to researchers. In particular, “Shuara-e-Uttar Pradesh” is a high-level and authentic research achievement by Dr. Abbasi that cannot be forgotten in the history of Urdu literature. One special feature of this Tazkira is that he did not focus only on important schools of Urdu but also searched for poets from towns, villages, hamlets, rural areas, and even unknown alleys whose poetry was valuable despite being far from literary circles¹. Because   generally  researchers   and scholars   only cover big personalities.

Dr. Abbasi  has written several books on Tazkira Nigari including "Tazkira Nasr Nigaran-e-Urdu Uttar Pradesh" and "Tazkira-e-Shora-e-Uttar Pradesh". His works are highly regarded in the field of Urdu literature.