Sufi Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum
Encyclopedia
Sufi Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum (4 August 1899–1978) was a noted 20th century poet in three languages: Urdu
, Punjabi
, and Persian
. Tabassum (or Tabussum) was the pen name
by which he was universally known.
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 Urdu and Persian into Punjabi. Sufi Tabassum's style is in the classical tradition, informed by a deep awareness of the pain and suffering that afflicts modern life.
Sufi Tabassum was born in Amritsar
, India
, to parents of Kashmir
i ancestry. He earned a Master's degree in Persian from Forman Christian College
(FCC) in Lahore. He remained with Government College Lahore for his entire career, rising to head the Department of Persian Studies.
For about fifty years he was a prominent speaker on radio and television. His poems were used as the lyrics of several songs sung by Noor Jehan
.
In 1966 he received the Tamgha-e-Nishan-e-Sipaas award of the Government of Iran, and he was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz
by the Government of Pakistan.
Sufi Tabassum's son, Sufi Nisar Ahmed, was also a stage play writer and wrote many comedies, mainly Punjabi stage plays and television dramas.
Sufi Tabassum was follower of Maulana Nawab ud din Ramdasi in Silsila Chishtia Sabria according to Meezab of Hafiz Mazhar ud din.
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
, Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
, and Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
. Tabassum (or Tabussum) was the pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
by which he was universally known.
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 Urdu and Persian into Punjabi. Sufi Tabassum's style is in the classical tradition, informed by a deep awareness of the pain and suffering that afflicts modern life.
Sufi Tabassum was born in Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
, India
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
, to parents of Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
i ancestry. He earned a Master's degree in Persian from Forman Christian College
Forman Christian College
Forman Christian College University, or FCCU, is a chartered university in Lahore, Pakistan, named after its American-born founder, Dr. Charles William Forman.- History :...
(FCC) in Lahore. He remained with Government College Lahore for his entire career, rising to head the Department of Persian Studies.
For about fifty years he was a prominent speaker on radio and television. His poems were used as the lyrics of several songs sung by Noor Jehan
Noor Jehan
Noorjehan or Noorjehan was the adopted stage name for Allah Wasai who was a legendary singer and actress in British India and Pakistan. Her career spanned seven decades...
.
In 1966 he received the Tamgha-e-Nishan-e-Sipaas award of the Government of Iran, and he was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz
Sitara-i-Imtiaz
The Sitara-i-Imtiaz , is the third highest honour and civilian award in the State of Pakistan. It recognizes the individuals who made an "especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of Pakistan, world peace, cultural or other significant public endeavors"...
by the Government of Pakistan.
Sufi Tabassum's son, Sufi Nisar Ahmed, was also a stage play writer and wrote many comedies, mainly Punjabi stage plays and television dramas.
Sufi Tabassum was follower of Maulana Nawab ud din Ramdasi in Silsila Chishtia Sabria according to Meezab of Hafiz Mazhar ud din.
Works (partial list)
- Tot Batot Collection. Published by Ferozsons, (no date). ISBN 969-0-01118-9.
- Ab Sab Hain Tot Batot Mian. Published by Sufi Gulzar Ahmed, 2000.
- Jholanay. Published by Ferozsons, (no date)
- Dogona. Published by Ferozonsons (a translation of the works of Hazarat Ameer Khosro)
- Suwan Raine Da Sufna, a translation into Punjabi of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, unknown publisher.