Allahabad: Eminent poet, critic and writer Shamsur Rahman Faruqui passed away at his home in Allahabad on Dec. 25 morning. He was 85.

Faruqui’s book ‘Kai Chaand The Sar-e-Aasman,’ written in 2006, has been hailed as a masterpiece of Urdu fiction. An English version of this book ‘Mirror of Beauty’ was published in 2013. He has also been credited with spearheading the revival of the Dastangoi — an Urdu oral storytelling art form. 

He was awarded Sahitya Akademi Award in 1986 for his book ‘Tanqidi Afqar,’ which focuses on modern theories of poetry appreciation, Saraswati Samman in 1996 for his work ‘Sher-e Shor-Angez,’ a study of the major eighteenth-century poet Meer Taqi Meer and was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2009.  

Shamsur Rahman Faruqui had delivered a special lecture under the aegis of All India Anjuman Tarriqqui Urdu, Mysuru Branch, during his visit to the Postal Training Institute at Mysuru. 

Prof. Syed Manzoor Ahmed, President of All India Anjuman Tarriqqui Urdu, Mysuru Branch, has condoled the death of Shamsur Rahman Faruqui.