I never knew about her, until Raza. And then Pakistaniat(Raza again).
My impression- she must be a Pakistani writer. (UPDATE(clarification): because there’s nothing visible in India)
Then along came 3quarksdaily. That shook me from my torpor.
Hell- 3QD is not a culture blog. It’s basically a science blog. And a very high profile one at that. If she appears there, she must be a bigshot. So I started reading the story carefully.
Surprise of surprises, she was an Indian! Omigosh, I’d never have guessed that. True, Raza spoke of Noida, but I didn’t take much notice. Probably because I wasn’t expecting her to be Indian.
Then I went to The Hindu (the newspaper. today’s editorial in it made me nauseate). Gave a search on her name to find out more. Guess what? They didn’t even publish the news that she was dead.
Why do I feel so empty? Why are my feet not steady on the ground? Is the ground there?
Lend me a light.
Manas -
many thanks for this post. Whilst I am shocked at this great loss, I am a little encouraged to see that my message in writing about Ainee is being heard..
Please also read this piece that I had written after meeting her in 2005:
http://www.razarumi.com/on-qurratulain-hyder/
Even if you don’t read Urdu well, most of her books have been published in Hindi script and you could try and read them.
In addition, there is a corpus of English translations, some good and some not so good available: Here’s a list:
Meray Bhi Sanam Khanay (My Temples, Too)
Aag Ka Darya (River of Fire)
Aglay Janam Mohay Bitya Na Kijyo (The Street Singers of Lucknow)
The Nautch Girl (translation of Hasan Shah’s 1790 novel)
Ustaad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Sabrang (with Malti Gilani and Manorma Ahuja)
Translated by CM Naim in Season of Betrayals: Sita Haran (Sita Betrayed) and
Housing Society (The Housing Society)
Ghalib, his life and poetry (with Ali Sardar Jafri)
Pat Jahr ki Awaz (‘The Sound of Falling Leaves) – translation by C M Naim
hope this helps
Thanks Raza.
You deserve special thanks for helping me find her.
I don’t want to compromise. I am learning Arabic script. In fact I already have, only I am not very much used to it. (Urdu script has a few extra letters, no? No problem, will learn them too!)
I will read her in original, God willing.
A shame, no doubt, but doesn’t surprise… the media is a capitalistic enterprise and unless there is a dollar value to an item it doesn’t get media attention.
IMeMy
It may be part of the reason.
But the media gives a damn to Urdu.
NDTV India covered her death all day long. They were the first ones to give this as breaking news. If people don’t value Urdu it is their own loss.
Aunty
Thanks for the information. I don’t watch much of TV these days. If they did cover it, I thank them heartily.
Some other newspapers did carry the news, but she deserved a little more respect.
I am rather disturbed, even about myself. How come I didn’t even know about her?
The Hindu has also paid a tribute to her Manas.
Aunty
I am sorry if I missed it, but a search on Hindu’s website, on the date when I posted this, did not show me that article. I’ll check it.
Thanks for the info, aunty. Soothes my nerves.
UPDATE: It came up on 2nd of September. A bit too late, but better late than never.
Bachhi Kakaria has paid a tribute to her in Times of India. Read that Manas it is nice.
Thank you aunty. I just read it. It was nice.
I also did not know about her. Good thing that you posted some info.
Aliana
Well, I don’t know much myself. I have to read her.
One more information about “Qurratulain Hyder” Manas. After partition she migrated to Pakistan but she returned to India and earned quite a few high profile awards and honours.She wrote her most lauded novel, Aag ka darya in Karachi.
Thanks, Aunty. I want to read aag ka darya. in original. I hope I shall.