Pakistani poet and author (1899-1978)
Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum (Punjabi: غُلام مُصطفا تبسّم, Urdu: غُلام مُصطفیٰ تبسّم), (4 August 1899 – 7 February 1978) was a 20th-century poet. His pen name was Tabassum (Urdu: تبسّم).[1][2]
He is best known for his many poems written for children, as the creator of the Tot Batot character, and as the translator of many poetical works from mostly Persian into Punjabi and Urdu languages.[1]
Early life and career
Sufi Tabassum was born on 4 August 1899 in Amritsar, Punjab, to parents of Kashmiri ancestry. He earned a master's degree in Persian language from Forman Christian College (FCC) in Lahore, Pakistan. He worked for and remained with Government College Lahore for his entire career, rising to head the Department of Persian Studies in 1943. Tabassum retired from Government College in 1954.[2][1]
Sufi Tabassum was also closely associated with the members of an informal literary circle called Niazmandan-e-Lahore. This circle's members included Pakistan's noted literary personalities including Patras Bokhari, Abdul Majeed Salik, Imtiaz Ali Taj, M. D. Taseer, Chiragh Hasan Hasrat, Hafeez Jalandhari, Abdur Rahman Chughtai and Majeed Malik.[1] Sufi Tabassum also edited the magazine Lail-o-Nahar for a while in addition to working for Radio Pakistan, Pakistan Arts Council and Iqbal Academy.[1]
In Pakistan, he is considered to be a pioneer in children's poetry. His popular poems for children are Totbatot and Jhoolnay.[2]
Poems
For fifty years, he was actively participating on Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television poetry events.[1] His poems were used as the lyrics of several songs sung by Noor Jehan, Naseem Begum, Farida Khanum and Ghulam Ali.[3]
Awards and recognition
Works (partial list)
- Tot Batot Collection. Published by Ferozsons (no date), ISBN 969-0-01118-9[1]
- Ab Sab Hain Tot Batot Mian, Published by Gulzar Ahmed, 2000
- Jhoolnay (collection of poems for children), Published by Ferozsons (no date)
- Doguna. Published by Ferozsons (a translation of the works of Hazarat Amir Khusrow)
- Sawan Raina Da Sufna, a translation into Punjabi of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, unknown publisher
- Talmatol (collection of poems for children)[1]
- Daman-i-Dil[1]
- Kulliyaat-i-Sufi Tabassum (Poetry in Urdu language)[1]
- Nazraan Kardiyaan Gallaan (Poetry in Punjabi language)
- Naqsh-i-Iqbal (Punjabi translation of Allama Iqbal's poetry)[1]
Death
Sufi Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum died in Lahore, Pakistan on 7 February 1978.[1][2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Rauf Parekh (8 February 2016). "LITERARY NOTES: Sufi Tabassum: a scholar and trilingual poet". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "Profiles of many notable Poets including Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum". Almanac of Pakistan. Overseas Pakistanis Foundation. December 2006. Archived from the original on 22 September 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- ^ a b Hamid, A (26 November 2006). "Nur Jehan: One in a Million". Daily Times (newspaper) (in Urdu and English). APNA (Academy of the Punjab in North America). Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- ^ Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum film song on IMDb website Retrieved 12 April 2019
- ^ Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum song on YouTube Retrieved 12 April 2019
- ^ Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum song on YouTube Retrieved 12 April 2019
- ^ Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum's Sitara-i-Imtiaz Award info on rekhta.org website Retrieved 12 April 2019
- ^ "President confers Pakistan civil awards on 135 individuals". The Express Tribune. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
