Urdu Speaking Girl and Saghir Tabassum

Saghir Tabassum 21-01-2026

  Muhammad Saghir Tabessum (born April 5, 1981) is a prominent Pakistani Punjabi poet and a radio personality. He is widely recognized for his social commentary and is a respected figure in both Pakistani and Indian Punjab.

Academic & Professional Background

    Beyond his literary pursuits, Tabessum holds a significant role in academia. He serves as the Head of the Department of BS & ADC at the Government Graduate College of Commerce in Bahawalnagar, Punjab.

Education:

MS in Management Sciences: University of South Asia, Lahore.

MBA: Virtual University (VU) of Pakistan.

Master’s in Commerce: Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Multan.

Literary Contributions

    Writing under his pen name, *Saghir Tabessum*, he has authored several works that highlight societal issues and cultural themes. His poetry has also been adapted into songs by various artists such as Sabir, Ramzan Jani, and many other Pakistani and Indian singers.

Published Works

Title

•  قیدی سُفنے | *Qaidi Sufne* 
•  جیوندیاں مردیاں آساں | *Jiundian Mardiyan Aasan* 
•  اساں چُپ نہیں وٹنی دھرتی تے | *Asan Chup Nahi Watni Dharti te* 
•  اک خیال سمندروں ڈونگھا | *Ek Khayal Sumndron Dongha* 
•  کُونجاں وچھڑن والیاں نیں | *Kounjan Wichran Waliyan ne* 
•  واہگیوں آر پار | *Wahgyon Aar Par* 

Awards and Recognition

    Tabessum’s impact on Punjabi literature has earned him numerous prestigious awards from both government, national and international literary bodies:

• PILAC Award: Received four times (till January 2026) from the Punjab Institute of Language, Art, and Culture (Government of Pakistan).
• Masud Khaddar Posh Award: A highly respected honor in Punjabi literature.
• Waris Shah International Award: Recognizing his global contribution to the language.
• Additional Honors: Baba Farid Adbi Award, World Punjabi Forum Award, and the Pak-British International Award.

In Depth

Saghir Tabassum
at Pak Tea House Lahore
on 6th Nov 2025
Picture by: Abdul Razzaq Qadri

    Saghir Tabassum is a contemporary Punjabi poet, researcher, and academic voice from Bahawalnagar whose work has steadily risen from regional literary circles to international recognition, especially after the viral spread of his long poem Urdū Bolan Vāliye Kuṛiye in 2024–25. Known for blending folk cadence with deep cultural reflection, Tabassum writes poetry that explores the emotional, historical, and linguistic identity of Punjab, while his research highlights the literary traditions of both the Eastern and Western Punjabi regions. Over the years he has authored an impressive body of work, beginning with Qaidī Sufne (2010), followed by Jiyūndiyān̲ Mardiyān̲ Āsān̲ (2018), the major critical study Asān̲ Chup Nahin̲ Vaṭnī Dhartī Te (2021), the cross-border Punjabi collaboration Wāhagioṅ Āra-Pāra (2023), and his celebrated 2024 publications including Urdū Bolan Vāliye Kuṛiye and Ik Khayāl Samandrūn̲ Ḍonghā. His books are widely catalogued in the Library of Congress and appear in university seminars, media discussions, and scholarly reviews, with critics like Anwar Masood and Zafar Iqbal acknowledging his contribution to modern Punjabi literature. Tabassum’s popularity surged when his lyrical, music-like long poem became a social-media sensation, pulling younger audiences toward Punjabi literature, while his academic work, awards such as the Masood Khaddarposh Award, and frequent appearances on platforms like Samaa Punjabi and Suno Punjab TV cement his reputation as one of the significant Punjabi poetic voices of his generation.

"Urdu Bolan Waliye Kuriye" is a contemporary epic-style Punjabi poem, which is a single book of 136 pages that celebrates the cultural, emotional, and linguistic relationship between Punjab and the Punjabi language.

The poem has been written in a lyrical, song-like flow, the poem addresses a symbolic “Urdu-speaking girl,” inviting her into the warmth of Punjabi expression and identity. It blends folk rhythm with modern sensibilities, making it deeply relatable for today’s readers and listeners. Saghir Tabassum, the poet behind this work, is a Punjabi writer, researcher, and poet known for his strong contributions to contemporary Punjabi literature. His writing is rooted in cultural history, language identity, and the literary traditions of Bahawalnagar and the broader Punjabi region.