His collection of short stories was released under the same title in 1956 and has been translated into English, German and Japanese.
One of his most famous short novels "Robohnya Surau Kami" detailed stories about cultural bankruptcy in Minangkabau.
He was also concerned about the quality of national education, especially what he saw as the failure to read and write with open minds.
He was survived by one wife, Aksari Yasin, whom he married in 1957, and seven children: Early Akbari, Lusi Bebasari, Dedi Andika, Lenggogini, Gemala Ranti, Rinto Amanda, and Rika Anggraini, and 13 grandchildren.
Navis was interred in the Garden of the General Cemetery (TPU) stumps Black, Padang.