A distinguished writer of Urdu literature, Qurat-ul-ain Haider (1927-2007) passed away at the age of 80. She was sick for quite some time and was in the hospital.

Both of her parents, Sajjad Haider Yildrim and Bint-e-Baqar were noted writers of Urdu literature. Her father’s essay, Mujhey meray dosto’n sey bachao, was very well known to the budding writers because they had read it in a prescribed text book in high schools.

Her fame rocketed sky-high with the publication of her novel, Aag ka Dariya, She came to Pakistan in 1947 when India was partitioned but went back to India after a few years. She was honored by the Government of India with two civil awards, Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. With her death, a glorious era of Urdu literature came to an end.