Renowned Urdu Writer Salam Bin Razzaq Passes Away at 83

Shaikh Abdussalam Abdurrazzaq, the renowned Urdu litterateur and academician, popularly known by his pseudonym Salam Bin Razzaq, passed away on Tuesday at his residence in Navi Mumbai after a prolonged illness, as informed by a family friend.

Literary Legacy

Razzaq, aged 83, left behind a rich literary legacy. He was the recipient of the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award for Urdu literature in 2004 for his acclaimed short story collection, ‘Shikasta Buton Ke Darmiyan’.

Humble Beginnings and Inspiration

Born in 1941 in Panvel, Raigad district, Razzaq had a humble beginning in life. He drew inspiration from the struggles and hardships faced by the common masses, which reflected in his writings, both prose and poetry. Many of his popular characters were based on ordinary people encountering and overcoming everyday challenges in their quest for survival.

Reviving Urdu Fiction

Razzaq rose to prominence in the 1970s when Urdu fiction was declining in popularity. Over four dozen of his stories were broadcast on All India Radio, and more than a dozen were included in the syllabi of schools, colleges, and universities.

Literary Works and Achievements

In addition to three major collections of short stories, two in Urdu and one in Hindi, Razzaq also translated several Marathi fictions into Urdu. He chronicled communal riots and worked as a municipal school teacher in Navi Mumbai early in his career.

Throughout his six-decade literary career, Razzaq was honored with accolades like the Sahitya Akademi Award, Ghalib Award, Maharashtra Urdu Sahitya Akademi Award, and many more.