New Delhi: Munnawar Rana, the renowned Urdu poet, passed away at the age of 71 in Lucknow on Sunday. He was undergoing treatment at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) in the city. Rana had been suffering from throat cancer for a long time, reported PTI.
Rana's daughter Sumaiya Rana told PTI that her father died at the hospital late on Sunday night, and would be laid to rest on Monday.
''He was hospitalised for 14 to 15 days due to illness. He was first admitted to Medanta in Lucknow and then to SGPGI where he breathed his last around 11 pm today,'' Rana's son Tabrez Rana told PTI.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed his grief over the demise of the renowned poet. "The demise of the country's renowned poet Munnavar Rana ji is extremely heartbreaking. Wishing peace to the departed soul. Heartfelt tribute," he wrote.
Reacting to the development, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Fakrul Hasan Chand said, “Munawwar Rana Sahab took India's name to great heights. Samajwadi Party pays tribute to him on his sad demise. His demise is a big loss for the country."
Who Was Munawwar Rana?
Munawwar Rana was known for his socially relevant poetry. Born on November 26, 1952, in Uttar Pradesh' Rae Bareli, he gained recognition for his thought-provoking and emotionally charged verses. His poetry often reflected on socio-political issues, communal harmony, and the human experience.
Rana rose to prominence with his first collection of poems titled "Aghaaz" (The Beginning), published in 1971. Over the years, Rana has written several poetry collections, including "Sarhad" (The Border), "Muhajirnama" (The Immigrant's Tale), and "Shahdaba" (The Honeyman).
Rana's poem 'Maa', which is considered one of his most famous poems, has a distinct place in Urdu literature.
The poet is survived by his wife, four daughters, and a son.