Born on July 1, 1921, at Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh (India), Professor Abidi received his early education at Lucknow and Varanasi. Later, he joined St. John’s College, Agra, and obtained his Master’s degree from the Agra University, securing a first class first. The same University awarded him the degree of Ph.D. in Persian sometime afterwards.

In 1945, Dr. Abidi joined St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, as Lecturer in Persian and Urdu. He was selected by the University of Tehran in 1955 for the award of a scholarship for higher studies in Iran, which he availed and obtained a Doctorate in Persian Language and Literature...