Iconic Urdu writer and critic Shamsur Rahman Faruqi no more

New Delhi, December 26: Christmas has turned dark for Urdu literature with the passing away of literary giant Shamsur Rahman Faruqi in Allahabad on Friday morning. The writer and theorist had tested positive for Corona-19 in November though he was discharged from a Delhi hospital after a few days of treatment. Born on September 30, 1935, the poet, recipient of the Padma Shri honour (2009) known for his immense contribution to Urdu literature by keeping it ‘relevant’ and finding ways to make it popular, spent all his life in Allahabad. Known for formulating new models of literary appreciation, the poet who was awarded the prestigious Saraswati Samman for his work ‘Sher-e Shor-Angez,’ a four-volume study of 18th century poet, recent works include ‘The Mirror of Beauty’ and ‘The Sun That Rose from the Earth’. Well-known writer William Dalrymple wrote on Twitter, “RIP Janab Shamsur Rahman Faruqi saheb, one of the last great Padshahs of the Urdu literary world. This is such sad news.”

By: R News India 24