25 Facts About Mareez

Mareez, born Abbas Abdul Ali Vasi, was a Gujarati poet, mainly popular for his Ghazals.

Mareez left studies in young age and started working in rubber shoe factory.

Mareez wrote Ghazals published in collections but many of his works remained uncredited which he sold during his financial difficulties.

Mareez's father was a teacher in Madrasah Taiyabiyah School, Surat.

Mareez studied only till second grade as he was not interested in studies.

Mareez wrote his first poem on the first birthday of his cousin when he was fourteen years old.

Mareez used to go to Zhapa Bazar in Surat where the group of people interested in Urdu and Gujarati Ghazals gathered on regular basis.

Mareez met Ameen Azad there whom he acknowledged as his teacher or Ustad.

Mareez went to Mumbai in 1932 and started working at Universal Rubber Works which manufactured rubber shoes.

Mareez left the rubber shoe factory and started working as journalist.

Mareez briefly worked as a salesman of bookseller, Shrafali and Sons, Bhindi Bazar, Bombay.

Mareez published Azaan, Khushbu and Umeed magazines but they were stalled due to financial constraints.

Mareez married his wife Sona in 1946 and uncle of his wife, Salehbhai Abdul Kader introduced him to Indian Independence Movement and he participated in Quit India Movement in 1942.

Mareez was appointed by Sayyedna Taher Saifuddin, Da'i al-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohra.

In 1965, a wealthy person who wanted to be poet hired Mareez to write poems in his own pen name Tabeeb.

Mareez confined himself to his home in last two years.

Mareez was knocked down by speeding auto rickshaw while crossing road just outside his home on 13 October 1983.

Mareez was admitted to hospital in Ghatkopar, Mumbai and underwent successful surgery on 19 October 1983.

Mareez died on the same day following heart attack in the hospital.

Mareez was buried the next day at Kurla Dawoodi Bohra Kabrastan in Zarimari area.

Mareez partially translated Urdu poetry, Siqva Jawab E Siqva by Iqbal in Gujarati.

Mareez had written two books, Mazloom-e-Karbala and Hurr dedicated to Imam Hussain which are not available in publication.

Mareez was felicitated in 1970 and in 1981 by Mareez Sanman Samiti for his contributions.

Mareez was introduced to Sona in the 1940s and they fell in love.

Mareez's son Mohsin was born in 1947 and his daughter Lulua in 1952.