Mareez

Abbas Abdul Ali Vasi (22 February 1917 – 19 October 1983), popularly known as Mareez, was an Indian poet of Gujarati language, mainly popular for his Ghazals. He is popularly known as Ghalib of Gujarat. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was young. He studied only till second grade as he was not interested in studies. Noticing his disinterest, his father discontinued his studies and sent him to Mumbai to work.

From young age, Abbas was interested in Marsiyas as his elder sister Rukhaiya used to recite Marasiyas written by Urdu poets, Anis and Dabeer. He wrote his first poem on the first birthday of his cousin when he was fourteen years old. He used to go to Zhapa Bazar in Surat where the group of people interested in Urdu and Gujarati Ghazals gathered on regular basis. He met Ameen Azad (1913-1992) there whom he acknowledged as his teacher or Ustad.

He confined himself to his home in last two years. He was knocked down by speeding auto rickshaw while crossing road just outside his home on 13 October 1983. He had multiple fractures in thigh. He was admitted to hospital in Ghatkopar, Mumbai and underwent successful surgery on 19 October 1983. He died on the same day following heart attack in the hospital. He was buried the next day at Kurla Dawoodi Bohra Kabrastan in Zarimari area. He wrote some Nazm and many Ghazals. In his financially difficult times, he sold his creation for which he was not credited. His first collection of Ghazals, Nazm and Muktak; Aagman was published in 1975. He dedicated it to Pravin Pandya. His second collection Nakshaa was published posthumously in 1984. Some of his poetry is published in Disha (1980) along with others. His religious poetry was published in religious and social magazines. Some of them were later anthologised in Akidat (1991) edited by his son Mohsin Vasi and poet Gulamabbas 'Nashad'.

Recognition He was felicitated in 1970 and in 1981 by Mareez Sanman Samiti for his contributions. He was awarded Premanand Suvarna Chandrak posthumously in 1984.

Personal life He was introduced to Sona in the 1940s and they fell in love. They married in 1946. His son Mohsin was born in 1947 and his daughter Lulua in 1952.