AMU fraternity mourns the sad demise of Prof Rashid Anwar Rashid
Aligarh : The faculty members and students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) condoled the sad demise of renowned Urdu litterateur and critic Prof Rashid Anwar Rashid, a faculty member at the Department of Urdu, AMU, who breathed his last on 7th April in a hospital at Mumbai, owing to his long illness. He is survived by his wife and four children.
Prof Rashid was very erudite, scholarly and had lots of fresh ideas, as his prose and poetry reflect, said Vice Chancellor Prof Mohammad Gulrez in his condolence message, adding that AMU has lost a genius. “I am deeply saddened by his demise. I extend sincere condolences to his family, and wish peace for the departed soul. May Allah give strength to his family and loved ones to bear this loss”, said Prof Gulrez.
Prof M. Quamrul Hooda Faridi, Chairman, Department of Urdu said that Prof Rashid Anwar Rashid was an intelligent poet, critic and writer. He was very kind-hearted and not only his friends, but the entire Urdu literary world is mourning his death. Alas, we have lost our beloved colleague and a worthy teacher in the Department of Urdu.
Expressing a deep sense of grief, Prof Shafey Kidwai, Department of Mass Communication said that Prof Rashid was an erudite scholar and his creative and critical acuity enlivened scholarship in Urdu fiction and poetry.
Prof Mohammd Asim Siddiqui, Chairman, Department of English, said taht Rashid Anwar Rashid was a prolific writer, a good poet, appreciated widely for the sensitive note in his poems, and a very fine human being. “I was in touch with him during his illness in the last two years and he always looked positive. His death has left me shocked. I extend heartfelt condolences to his family”.
Noted fiction writer Mr. Mohammad Ashraf said, Rashid Anwar Rashid had a sharp creative ingenuity and his creative dexterity made him popular.
Prof M. Ashiq Ali, Chairman, Department of Hindi said that Prof Rashid Anwar was a versatile writer and was not confined to Urdu fiction as he published a Hindi collection also.
Prof Tariq Chhtari said that Prof Rashid was a prolific writer and his books including “Dhoop Aisi to Nahi Thi Pahle” (poetry collection), Qazi Abdus Sattar: Asraar-o-Guftaar (biography in the form of interview), Urdu Ghazal: Fan, Ekhtesaas aur Irteqai Tasalsul (criticism), Urdu Drama: Fan, Ekhtesaas aur Irteqai Tasalsul (criticism), Aasaar Lafz (criticism), Geet Sunati hain Hawa (poetry on nature), Qareeb Aao (poetry in Hindi), Hindi Film: Fan Ekhtesaas aur Irteqai Tasalsul (analytical study), Naye afsaney ka maanvi isteara, Subhash Chandra Bose (translation), Stories Of India (translation), Majrooh Sultan Puri, Fiction Mokalma, Funoon-e- Lateefa and Qareeb aao (Hindi) etc. are testimony to it.
Prof Rashid Anwar Rashid taught at Jamia Millia Islamia prior to joining AMU in 2003.
He perused M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. in Urdu from JNU and BA from Ranchi University, Ranchi.
He published more than 25 books. He was conferred with several awards including Delhi Urdu Academy Award, UP Urdu Academy Award, Bihar Urdu Academy Award, West Bengal Urdu Academy Award, Darjeeling Kala Parishad Award, and Sadaf International Award.