Qurat-ul-ain Haider Has Passed Away

re #7

neembu: because unfortunately i have read only one piece by her, and as much impact as that had on me a few years ago, I would rather someone wrote it who has read more and is more familiar with her. It's like everyone who when talking about Faiz talks more about Mujhse pehli si mohabbat mere mehboob na maang, when there are more of Faiz's poems that deserve mention. Hopefully that makes sense. I will share a personal reflection from my blog, but that is brief may not do her justice either. Which is why I would like to hear more:

I learn from reading a friend's blog that Qurratulain Haider passed away the previous morning. I am fortunate to have read Aag ka Dariya (River of Fire) in its English translation, and until that time I had never read anything by an Indian writer that was so awe-inspiring in its scope and breadth. I do not own the book, but there was a point where the leap from one era into the next was so seamless, a desi writer and I agreed it was incredible. Ma brought me a novel of hers back from Lahore the last time she was there, but it seemed to disappear into the vortex where many of my lost items have disappeared to, and so I never even had the fortune of reading the only Urdu text I had of hers. Still, I am blessed to have touched and read something that she was a part of. No news I read of her passing can truly touch on what she meant to those of us who have read her fiction.

May she rest in peace and may her memory be eternal.

The Dailytimes has a relatively good piece, calling her Urdu's greatest novelist.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=20078\23\story_23-8-2007_pg3_ 1

ana, why don't you write something here, or submit it to chowk-would love to read your retrospective.

I understand the need to do an obituary, but this really does not do "Annie apa" justice. I guess the need to be news-like like most other news reports that just did two soulless paragraphs is greater than actually talking about the impact she made on us as readers. Chowk istaff, have you actually read anything by her, perhaps you could share some more reflections?

stuka: you need a copy of one of her translated works, unless you can find one in hindi. Check out if any bookstores near you might have River of Fire She did the English transliteration of that one as well. Agar nahin tau mujhe batana. I think you'd like it.

She was the main reason I learnt to read Urdu. Aag Ka Darya was a much talked about piece during my college days and we had a copy at our house in Urdu. I would love to hear from people who actually met her, and I agree, a more comprehensive obituary is in order

Oh this is not enough! Someone knowledgeable please write an article worthy of her.

Even wikipedia has the most sketchy description. She also won top literary awards, not mentioned in the article.

May she rest in peace...

drsohail, echo seems to have known her personally. Hopefully he will write something for us.

inna lillaha wa inna 'ilayhi raji'uun.

I've never heard of her, to be honest.

for those urdu speaking people and writers who suffer from inferiority complex, qurat-ul-ain haider was one of those wonderful urdu writers who were a source of pride and could be presented in any international circle. her knowledge of history and her command on literature were impressive.
i was surprised though that some people were nervous to meet her as she was quite outspoken and unnpredictable...a characteristic of many genuinely creative personalities...who like to call a spade a spade.
we will miss her for along time. sohail
ps...i never met her...if any of the readers met her, please share your encounter with her.