Ghawwasi was a prominent poet of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, regarded as the second most renowned poet of the period. His poetry gained recognition during the reign of Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah, and he rose to prominence in the court of Sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah (1625–1672), where he held an esteemed position. He was also appointed as an ambassador to Bijapur.

Ghawwasi’s mathnavi works were particularly celebrated. His Saif ul Mulk o Badi ul Jamal, completed in 1035 H, was a translation from Persian to Dakhni. Another major work, Tuti Nama, originally authored in Persian by Ziauddin Nakshabi, was translated by Ghawwasi and completed in 1049 H. A third mathnavi, Chanda aur Lokh (also referred to as Mina o Satwanti), translated from Persian in 1035 H, has also been attributed to him.

A study of Saif ul Mulk reveals Ghawwasi’s strong self-praise and criticism of other poets, though he does not mention any names explicitly, claiming poetry belonged solely to him. In contrast, Tuti Nama reflects a tone of humility and introspection, where he expresses regret for being a worldly man (dunya-dar). His language is simple, rich in Hindi vocabulary, and devoid of ambiguity, which adds to the appeal and accessibility of his works.

Several manuscripts of Saif ul Mulk and Tuti Nama are preserved in European collections, as well as in the Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu and with Agha Hyder Husain of Nizam College. The third mathnavi, Chanda aur Lokh, remains unpublished; four manuscripts are housed in the State Library, Hyderabad, and four more in the Salar Jung Library. His Kulliyat has been published by Idara-e-Adabiyat-e-Urdu. The Kulliyat, containing his ghazals, qasidas, and marsiyas, is also available at the Asafia Library in Hyderabad.

Some scholars have referred to him as Bahauddin, though this identification remains unverified. Like Wajhi, the exact date of Ghawwasi’s death is unknown, but it is generally believed that he passed away before 1060 H, during the reign of Sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah.

Note: We have two of Ghawasi’s published mathnavis in our collections.
1. Mathnavi: Sayf al-Mulook wa Badi’ ul-Jamaal (1937) compiled by Mir Sa’adath Ali Razvi

Further Readings:
1. Shareef, Muhammad Jamaal. Dakan meiN Urdu Shayeri Wali Se Pehle. Edited by Muhammad Ali Asar. Hyderabad: Idara-e-Adabiyat-e-Urdu, 2004.
2. Hashmi, Naseer-Uddin. Dakan MeiN Urdu. 1st ed., Taraqqi Urdu Bureau, 1985