Okhla-based well-known figure Rizwanullah Faruqi died on Saturday morning. A resident of Abul Fazal Enclave even in his old age was engrossed in writing. It was just last month when his new book had hit the shelves.
He was laid to rest in Shaheen Bagh graveyard at 3 pm and due to incessant rain his tadfeen was delayed, said a resident, a neighbour and who knew him for years. He cut his teeth with an Urdu daily in Kolkata before Partition and went up the ladder in his profession. He wrote several books and even at the age of more than 90 he had an elephantine memory.
As Okhla developed in his lifetime, he was well aware of the history of the locality and used talk about old days when Jamia Nagar was just a barren land with only a small Jamia Millia Islamia building which was established in 1930, said a resident, who was a regular at his house.
Renowned journalist and author, Rizwanullah Faruqi, is no more. He passed away early morning today. One of the most experienced journalists who joined an Urdu daily in Kolkata before Partition he wrote with equal ease in Urdu n English. His last book came out in Sept. Inna lillah pic.twitter.com/FqkCw1G7Ai
— India Muslim History (@syedurahman) October 8, 2022
He passed matriculation from KK College, Kanpur in 1946 and graduated from Christ Church College, Kanpur in 1951. He joined District Supply Office, Deoria, UP, in December 1946 as a clerk and then resigned in July to join the railway service in Banaras as “A” grade apprentice driver.
Later on, he joined Urdu daily Asre-Jadid as News Editor in 1951 and continued there till 1969.
While working in the newspaper, he completed two years Post Graduate Journalism Course in Calcutta University (1954-56). And started working as part-time Urdu translator in American Centre, USIS, Calcutta in 1957 and continued till 1975. Later on he joined as the Chief Editor at the American Centre, USIS, New Delhi, in December 1975 and then retired in February 1992.
He lost his brother Fiazanullah Faruqi, who was retired HOD Arabic Department, JNU, to corona, years ago, said the resident.
He came to Okhla in 80s most probably. Earlier he used to live in Zakir Nagar and then later on shifted to Abul Fazal Enclave where he breathed his las, said the resident, adding that Jamia Nagar developed in front of him.
He has left behind five daughters. One of his daughters is Professor at Jamia Millia Islamia’s Persian Department.
