Renowned poet Munawwar Rana, celebrated for his poignant verses on motherhood, breathed his last late last night, succumbing to a cardiac arrest amid a prolonged battle with kidney and heart-related ailments.
The 71-year-old literary icon had been receiving treatment at PGI, Lucknow, and was admitted to the ICU on January 9.
Despite determined efforts, he passed away around 11 pm on Sunday, as shared by his daughter Sumaiya, who also disclosed that his last rites would be conducted on Monday.
A Life Marked by Literary Excellence and Struggle with Health
Survived by his wife, four daughters, and a son, Munawwar Rana faced health challenges over the past year, with hospitalizations at Apollo Hospital, Lucknow, and subsequent stays at Medanta and SGPGI.
His son, Tabrez, revealed details of a 14-15 day hospitalization due to illness. Last year, Rana had found himself on a ventilator at Apollo Hospital. Sumaiya explained that recent hospitalization was prompted by stomach pain during dialysis, leading to gall bladder surgery.
Harassed for being vocal against UP C.M.
Munawwar Rana, not unfamiliar with controversy, made headlines ahead of the 2022 UP assembly elections, declaring his intent to leave UP if Yogi Adityanath returned as Chief Minister.
He expressed concerns about discrimination against Muslims and criticized PM Modi.
His worries extended to his son’s safety after a shooting incident in 2021, while in 2020, he defended the response to a school teacher’s strangulation in France over a cartoon controversy.
Literary Legacy and Awards
Recognized for his diverse literary contributions in Urdu, Hindi, and Awadhi, Munawwar Rana was honored with the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014 and the Maati Ratan Samman in 2012.
However, his principled stand against increasing intolerance was evident in his return of the Academy Award and his decision never to accept government awards.
Rana’s controversial tweets, including one on the farmers’ movement, led to the deletion of a tweet advocating the demolition of Parliament.