Acclaimed poet Munawwar Rana died in Lucknow on Sunday after prolonged illness.

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

Who is Munawwar Rana?

Born on November 26, 1952 in Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, Rana was widely praised for his significant contributions to Urdu literature and poetry with a focus on ghazals. His poetic approach was distinctive because of its inclusivity, incorporating Hindi and Awadhi expressions while staying away from Persian and Arabic influences. His works have been translated into many languages.

Throughout his career, Rana has won several honours, including the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014 for his poetry collection ‘Shahdaba’. However, a year later, he decided to return the award, citing fears of “rising intolerance” in the country.

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

emotions are surging

Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav has expressed grief over the demise of the poet.

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

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

One user wrote that Rana’s powerful poem resonates deeply and said that he is a great soul who has faced and reflected on the challenges of difficult times.

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