Renowned Urdu poet Munawwar Rana dies at 71 from cardiac arrest

PTC News Desk: Renowned Urdu poet Munawwar Rana passed away at the age of 71, succumbing to a cardiac arrest at the PGI Hospital in Lucknow. The poet had been grappling with an extended illness for several months, with complications related to kidney and heart ailments.

Munawwar Rana's demise occurred on a Sunday night at the PGI Hospital, as confirmed by his daughter, Sumaiya Rana. The poet's funeral is scheduled for Monday. Rana had been undergoing treatment at the hospital for approximately 14 to 15 days. Initially admitted to Medanta in Lucknow, he was later transferred to SGPGI, where he breathed his last around 11 pm, according to Rana's son, Tabrez Rana.

Survived by his wife, four daughters, and a son, Munawwar Rana, born on November 26, 1952, in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, gained widespread recognition for his significant contributions to Urdu literature and poetry. Notably celebrated for his ghazals, Rana's unique poetic style incorporated Hindi and Awadhi words, avoiding Persian and Arabic, thus resonating with a broader Indian audience.

One of his most celebrated works was the poignant poem 'Maa,' which eloquently portrayed the virtues of motherhood within the traditional ghazal form. Rana received several accolades throughout his illustrious career, including the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014 for his poetry book 'Shahdaba.' However, he returned the award approximately a year later, expressing concerns over the increasing intolerance in the country.

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His list of accolades also included the Ameer Khusro Award, Mir Taqi Mir Award, Ghalib Award, Dr Zakir Hussain Award, and the Saraswati Samaj Award. His literary works have been translated into multiple languages. Having spent a significant part of his life in Kolkata, Munawwar Rana held a prominent presence in mushairas (poetic symposiums) both in India and abroad. Besides his literary pursuits, the poet actively engaged in political developments in Uttar Pradesh, with his daughter Sumaiya being a member of the Samajwadi Party (SP), led by Akhilesh Yadav.

Despite his literary achievements, Rana was not without controversy. He faced criticism for expressing support for the Taliban, drawing parallels with Maharishi Valmiki, and endorsing the murder of Samuel Paty in Paris in 2020, a case revolving around a controversy concerning Prophet Mohammad.

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(Inputs from agencies)

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