Fahmida Riaz

Progressive Urdu writer and poet Fahmida Riaz of Pakistan died on November 21 in Lahore. She was 72. Fahmida authored 15 books on fiction and poetry and remained at the centre of controversies. During Ziaul Haque regime in Pakistan, she took asylum in India and was a poet-in residence at the Jamia Millia Islamia. Her husband was imprisoned during this period. Two of her sons were born in India. She learnt Hindi during her stay in Delhi and used to lace Hindi words together with Urdu effortlessly. Her books include Godaavari, Khatt e Marmuz and Khana e Aab o Gil, the first translation of the Masnavi of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi from Persian to Urdu.