Born on November 1, 1930 in Desna village in block Asthawan in Nalanda district of Bihar, Desnavi has over 50 books on Urdu literature to his credit. Among his major works were, ‘Hayat-e-Abul Kalam Azad’, a book on freedom fighter Maulana Abul Kalam Azad published in 2000.
He belonged to the family of great Muslim scholar Syed Sulaiman Nadwi, who was one of the eminent historian and the greatest biographers of Muhammad (PBUH), the Prophet of Islam during his times. He was the son of late Prof. Syed Saeed Raza, who was Professor of Arabic & Persian in St. Xavier College, Bombay where his brother Prof. Muhi Raza was also a professor.
His specialization was Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Mirza Ghalib, Allama Iqbal and Bhopal. He was recipient of several awards.
He received Senior Fellowship from the Union Ministry of Culture. His great treatise was a voluminous book on one of India’s frontline freedom fighter and first Union Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad over 900 pages titled “Hayat-e-Abul Kalam Azad” which he penned
in the year 2000. It was acclaimed nationally and internationally.
Prof. Desnavi had his primary education in Arrah town of Bihar. After completing his higher education in St. Xavier College, Bombay, he joined Urdu Department of Urdu in local Saifia Post Graduate College in February 1961. He rose to become Professor and Head of the Urdu Department of Saifia College and became well-known literary figure at the all India level in the Urdu world. He retired in 1990. He was secretary of Madhya Pradesh Urdu Academy (1991-92), member of All
India Anjuman Taraqui Urdu Board and also chairman of Board of Studies in Bhopal University.
He was laid to rest in Bada Bagh graveyard where a large number of literary personalities and prominent citizens participated in his funeral procession.