Renowned poet Munawwar Rana passes away following prolonged illness

mangaloretoday.com/news18

Lucknow, Jan 15, 2024: Acclaimed poet Munawwar Rana passed away in Lucknow on Sunday following a prolonged illness.

 

The 71-year-old was admitted to the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) in Lucknow. He was suffering from throat cancer for a long time, Rana’s daughter Sumaiya Rana told PTI.

Who is Munawwar Rana?

Born on November 26, 1952, in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, Rana gained widespread acclaim for his significant contribution to Urdu literature and poetry, with a focus on ghazals. His poetic approach stood out due to its inclusivity, incorporating Hindi and Awadhi expressions while steering clear of Persian and Arabic influences. His works have been translated into several languages.

Throughout his career, Rana garnered numerous honours, including the esteemed Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014 for his poetry collection ‘Shahdaba’. However, a year later, he decided to return the award, citing apprehensions about “increasing intolerance” in the country.

He is also a recipient of Ameer Khusro Award, Mir Taqi Mir Award, Ghalib Award, Dr Zakir Hussain Award, and the Saraswati Samaj Award.

Condolences Pour In

Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav expressed grief over the death of the poet.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Fakrul Hasan Chand said Munawwar Rana took India’s name to great heights. “Samajwadi Party pays tribute to him on his sad demise. His demise is a big loss for the country,” he added.

Netizens on X, formerly Twitter, also reacted to Rana’s death and expressed condolences.

One user wrote Rana’s impactful poetry resonated deeply and said he is a great soul who faced and reflected the challenges of tough times.

At 12.15 am Monday, #MunawwarRana was trending on X, with hundreds of posts in praise.