Well-known Urdu poet, writer Salik dies of heart attack

Well-known Urdu poet, writer Salik dies of heart attack

A well-known Urdu poet and writer died of heart attack in Abul Fazal Enclave on Monday, according to Urdu poet Rizwan Khan. He told the OT that Salik Dhampuri, 70, died of heart attack in his house in AFE today at 4 pm, leaving his fans and followers in deep shock.

A resident from Dahmpuri in Bijnor, Khan said the poet has been residing in AFE for the last 40 years and was active socially. He wrote more than 12 books, said Khan. He has left behind three sons and 2 daughters.

Naseem-Ur-Rahman, who had known him for years, said his name was Mushtaq Ahmad but his pen name was Salik Dampuri and people in the Urdu world knew him by this name only.

He will be laid to rest after fajar prayer on Tuesday in Shaheen Bagh graveyard, said Izhar, who knew him for years.

“On Saturday he vomited and then took medicine and hoped that he will be fine. On Friday we met him. Children didn’t allow him to go out for two days. At 3 pm on Sunday he went to bathroom to clean his face and when he didn’t come out children went inside and were shocked to see him collapsed on the floor. He was rushed to Al-Shifa hospital where doctors declared him brought dead,” said Khan.

A resident of E block, AFE, he was a fiction writer and he won several awards for his writings.

“The NCUPL also supported him for publishing books. Urdu Academy also gave him award. He was a member of Jamaat-E-Islami Hind and had gone to jail when the NGO was banned during Emergency. He wrote a book based on his jail experience. He was a translator,” said Khan.

Salik Dhampuri was also a veteran Hindi journalist. He served Hindi weekly “Kanti” in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s under the stewardship of its Editor and Hindi scholar late Dr Kausar Yazdani, wrote senior journalist and executive member, Press Club of India, AU Asif.