# Khawar Rizvi

Khawar Rizvi (Urdu: خاور رضوی; 1 June 1938 – 15 November 1981) was a Pakistani poet and scholar of Urdu and Persian. Born Syed Sibte Hassan Rizvi, he adopted the pen name "Khawar"—which signifies "The East" in Persian—for his poetry and essays. Rizvi was deeply fond of the East and held a reverent affection for its inherent principles and way of life.

## Early life and career

Khawar Rizvi belonged to a noble Syed family. He was born on 1 June 1938. Some sources claim that his actual year of birth was 1936, but official documents show that he was born in 1938. He inherited his talent for poetry from various family members. His mother, Abida Begum, was a poet, but most of her poetry could not be preserved. His maternal uncle, Dr. Abul Hassan, was a well-known poet and scholar , as was his aunt, Bano Saidpuri. Khawar Rizvi's father, Syed Najm ul Hassan Rizvi, belonged to the armed forces of Pakistan. His son, Dr. Syed Shabih ul Hassan Rizvi, is an educationist, scholar, and philanthropist, as well as the chairman of the UN think-tank World Future Forum.
Rizvi was fond of knowledge and learning from an early age. He received his formal education at Government School, Campbellpur, now called Attock, and graduated from Government College Attock. Afterward, he undertook post-graduate studies in literature at the University of Punjab and started his career as a teacher. He later joined the banking sector and became a banker. Due to his abhorrence for exploitation and depriving the poor of their rights, he left his banking career despite an uncertain future. To better serve people, Khawar joined the department of social security in Pakistan. He was serving in that department as a director when he died of a sudden heart attack on 15 November 1981, while traveling from his hometown to his workplace. Thousands attended his funeral, and he was buried in the graveyard of Ahmad Pur Sial, a historical small town in Jhang District, Pakistan. His death at the age of 43 was widely mourned throughout the continent, especially in South Asia.

## Ideology and activism

Rizvi belonged to the Progressive Writers' Movement in the subcontinent of India and Pakistan and was against all types of tyranny, dictatorship, subjugation, and exploitation. Due to his ideology and political beliefs, he became a victim of the policies of the then-Pakistani dictator General Zia-ul-Haq. Rizvi fought for the freedom of expression, civil liberties, human rights, equality, and alleviation of poverty.

## Tributes and homages

Rizvi's poetry was recognized during his lifetime and posthumously. Writers and poets like Ahmad Nadeem Qasimi, Tanveer Sipra, Professor Yousuf Hassan, Amjad Islam Amjad, Munno Bhai, and Hassan Akhter Jalil condoled his death. Ahmad Nadeem Qasimi wrote about him in his literary magazine "Funnon," published from Lahore. Khalid Ahmad wrote an extensive article about Khawar's poetry and personality, published in "Daily Jang" Karachi. Hassan Rizvi published a piece about him in the daily "Jang" Lahore, and Azhar Javed wrote about him in his magazine "Takhleeq". The magazine of Government College Attock "Mashal" dedicated a special section to Khawar Rizvi and his poetry. Poets like Iqbal Kausar and Dr Saad Ullah Kaleem, Professor Zafar Jaunpri, and Saeed Jaunpuri also wrote in appreciation of Khawar's poetry. The names and works of Khawar Rizvi and his son Shabih-ul-Hassan Rizvi were mentioned in the books of Rashid Amjad, Raghab Shakeeb, Waqar bin Ellahi, and in other books and periodicals. A popular magazine for children Kidzine International paid tribute to Khawar Rizvi in the following words:
   He was respected as a thinker and scholar throughout his life though it was so short in years but too big in deeds. Khawar Rizvi's thought was progressive. He never compromised on any subjugation. Though he was in a high position in the Social Security department he always defended the rights of the workers. All his life he loved youth and children. He never liked disappointment and negative thinking. He was so full of life that death did not dare to enter his home but caught him in the middle of way far from his home in the morning and mourning hours of 15th November 1981 when he was only 43.