by Raza Rumi
I have been upset the entire day. Perhaps it does not matter in the larger scheme of things. But this is a sad, sad day. Qurratulain Hyder, the literary giant of our times is no more. At a personal level it is not just the death of another literary figure but it is far greater and deeper than that. Ainee inspired generations of Urdu readers and there is not a single Urdu writer of post-independence era who has not been influenced by her.
Ainee had a civilizational consciousness that took us beyond the nation-state identities that we are so familiar with in our everyday lives. And, of course there was romance – the notion of eastern and Indic romance – that touched our lives. As I wrote earlier, that the way I have understood the world and perhaps parts of myself were deeply influenced by Ainee.
And 
now her death is a blow that this source of inspiration is not there anymore; as it is we are living in barren times where literature is about marketing and packaging and catering to consumers.
Ainee primarily wrote for herself but reached out and made her mark – and in the process she connected with millions of readers. And I am just one of them. My friends and I have talked today and we recounted how she shaped our inner lives.
I have at least avoided a regret – I met her after years of longing. Met her twice at her house in her frail state and enjoyed the hours. The impressions were indelible. Of course, the ambitious self had planned a meeting later this year.
But there will be nobody in that Noida house. That little temple opposite her house will remain and the sound of Azaan from a neighbouring mosque will also heard. But the hearty laughter, quick witted lines and inimitable writings will not be there.
However, as a friend said – writers die, their stories don’t -makes me a little content.
Farewell, Ainee Apa. May God keep you happy wherever you are…
Photo Credits: The black-and-White photo in this post is courtesy of Prashant Panjiar
It must be remembered that she migrated to Pakistan in 1947 and worked for the information ministry.
Her disillusionment with Pakistan came with Ayub Khan’s curbs on press and intellectual freedom.
Pakistan is an unlucky country… some leave it, most are pushed away.
Raza, I don’t have words to describe my sorrow. You are lucky to have met her. I will live with the desire to meet this woman of remarkable stature. Dr. Salam, no less, once said that her novel “aag kaa duryaa: river of fire” is a new turn in the history of urdu literature. Perhaps a post about her works may be even more appropriate here. I first started reading aag ka durya in 8th grade, read about 200 pages and then my head spun and gave up. But characters of Gotum Neelambar, Hury shankar, Kamal and Champak stayed with me for an other decade until I read the novel again. As someone once aptly said she was the poetess of the history. Her short stories were master pieces in themselves. I can think of “aglay janam mohay bityya na kee’jo,”ye ghazi ye teray purasrar bunday” and so many more. She also did many translations of great russian novels of the 19th century. Pakistan did not treat her right and she went back to India with a dejected heart in 1958. But it must be noted that the greatest novel of urdu literature, aag ka duriya, was written in Maripur, Karachi by Quratul-Ain at age 32. Many agree that the novel was/is like an elephant’s foot that covered everything that had been written in urdu nasar up until that point. In fact one can even see clear shades of it in Abdullah Hussein’s best work “udaas naslain; weary generations.”
I end my comment on this verse for her:
undder bhi zamee’n ke roshni ho
mutti mein diya rukh diya he
was she pakistani citizen, i donot think so, she gave up the idea of PAKISTANIAT and went back to settle in india, is pakistaniat.com exclusive to pakistani features only please explain
Mujhe Bitiya Na Kigeeyo Aglay Ganam
A tribute to Muslim Feminist of millenium
Dear friends, thanks for the comments.
Ainee’s stature is based on her powerful writing and the innovations she introduced in her style of writing novels. The Times Literary Supplement once commented that she can be counted alongside her contemporaries Milan Kundera and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, as one of the world