Remembering Altaf Fatima and Fahmida Riaz

Altaf Fatima (L); Fahmida Riaz (R)

Renowned progressive Urdu poet and writer Fahmida Riaz passed away on Wednesday 21 November in Lahore, Pakistan. A famed literary personality, Riaz was celebrated for her fearless treatment of topics such as female desire and political consciousness. A selection of her works are available to read here.

Eminent writer Altaf Fatima passed away on Thursday 29 November at the age of 91. She was an Urdu novelist, short-story writer, and expert on poet-philosopher Allama Iqbal. Her novel Dastak Na Dou is regarded as one of the defining works in the Urdu language. A selection of her works are available to read here.