Jeelani Bano
Indian writer of Urdu literature (1936–2026)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jeelani Bano (14 July 1936 – 1 March 2026) was an Indian writer and novelist. She wrote in Urdu, Hindi, Gujarati and Telugu. Bano received the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri in 2001.
- Litterateur
- novelist
- author
Jeelani Bano | |
|---|---|
Bano in 1999 | |
| Born | 14 July 1936 Budaun, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India |
| Died | 1 March 2026 (aged 89) Hyderabad, Telangana, India |
| Occupations |
|
| Known for | Novel, short story |
| Awards | Padma Shri Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi Award Soviet Land Nehru Award Qaumi Haali Award NTR national Literary Award |
Early life and education
Jeelani Bano was born on 14 July 1936 in Badayun,[1] in United Provinces of Agra and Oudh to Hairat Badayuni,[2] a known Urdu poet.[3] After her schooling, she enrolled for intermediate course when she married Anwar Moazzam, a poet of repute and a former head of the Department of Islamic Studies at the Osmania University and shifted to Hyderabad.[4] She continued her education to secure a master's degree (MA) in Urdu.[5][1]
Career
Bano started writing at an early age, reported to be at the age of eight,[4] and her first story, Ek Nazar Idhar Bhi (A Glance Hither), was published in 1952.[3] She is credited with 22 books comprising anthologies starting with Roshni ke Minar and novels beginning with Aiwaan-e-ghazal. Her list of books include an autobiography, Afzane[6] and a collection of her correspondence with other writers, Door ki Aawaazen.[3][4] One of her stories, Narsayya Ki Bavdi, has been made into a 2009 feature film, Well Done Abba by the renowned filmmaker, Shyam Benegal.[4][7] Many of her books have been translated into other languages.[5][4][8][9]
Jeelani Bano, a former Chairperson of the non governmental organization for women's rights, Asmita,[4] lived in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.[3][1] She was also associated with Youth for Action of which she was a former chairperson, Child and Women Human Rights, a forum of the International Human Rights Association of India as its principal advisor[4] and maintains associations with radio and television.[5]
Death
Bano died on 1 March 2026, at the age of 89.[10]
Awards and recognitions
Bano received the Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi Award in 1960, followed by the Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1985.[3][5]
She received the Qaumi Haali Award from the Haryana Urdu Academy in 1989.[3][5]
The Government of India honoured her with the civilian award of Padma Shri in 2001.[11]
Selected works
She had been writing since 1954 in Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati and Telugu.[12][13]
- Bānū, Jīlānī (1958). Raushni Kay Meenār (in Urdu). Naya Adara.
- Bano, Jeelani (1963). Nirvaan (in Urdu). New Delhi: Maktaba Jamia Limited.
- Bānū, Jīlānī (1966). Jugnū aur sitāre (in Urdu). Hind pākiṭ buks.
- Bano, Jeelani (1971). Nirwan (in Urdu). AIlahabad: Shaheen Publishers.
- Bano, Jeelani (1977). Naghme Ka Safar: Chaar Novelette (in Urdu). Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Academy.
- Bānū, Jīlānī (1976). Aivan-i ghazal (in Urdu). Maktab-i Jam'iah.
- Bano, Jeelani (1979). Paraya Ghar (in Urdu). Hyderabad: Urdu Markaz.
- Bānū, Jīlānī (1987). Pattharoṃ kī bāriśa (in Hindi). Vidyā Prakāśana Mandira.
- Bānū, Jīlānī (1985). Bārish-i sang: nāvil (in Urdu). Dāniyal.
- Bano, Jeelani (1987). Raz ka Qissa (in Urdu). Karachi: Nafees Academy.
- Bano, Jeelani (1992). Ye Kaun Hansa? (in Urdu). Lahore: Khoj.
- Bānū, Jīlānī (1996). A Hail of Stones. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-207-1837-1.
- Bano, Jeelani (1997). Sach Ke Siwa (in Urdu). Delhi: Educational Publishing House. ISBN 81-86232-47-8.
- Bano, Jeelani (2003). Aiwaan-e-Ghazal (in Urdu). M. R. Publications. ISBN 978-81-88413-00-3.
- Bano, Jeelani (2005). Kun (in Urdu) (1st ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-547152-6.
- Bano, Jeelani (2010). Rasta Band Hai (in Urdu) (1st ed.). Delhi: Educational Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-8223-611-0.
- Bano, Jeelani (2012). Rasta Band Hai (in Urdu) (2nd ed.). Delhi: Educational Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-8223-611-0.
- Bano, Jeelani (2014). Mein Kaun Hun? Nau Umri Ke Wo Din (in Urdu) (1st ed.). New Delhi: National Book Trust. ISBN 978-81-237-7219-6.
- Bano, Jeelani (2014). Farrukhi, Asif (ed.). Yaqeen Ke Aage Guman Ke Pichhe (in Urdu). Delhi: Educational Publishing House. ISBN 978-93-5073-436-0.
- Bānū, Jīlānī (2018). Baarish-e-Sang: Novel (in Urdu). Educational Publishing House. ISBN 978-93-88105-42-2.
- Bano, Jeelani (2019). Jilani Bano Ki Do Bal Kahaniyan (in Hindi) (5th ed.). Delhi: National Book Trust.
- Bano, Jeelani (2021). Kimiya-e-Dil (in Urdu). Delhi: Educational Publishing House. ISBN 978-93-91238-31-5.
- Raat ke Musafir (short story anthology)
- Tiryaaq (short story anthology)
- Nayee Aurat (short story anthology)
- Sach ke siva (short story anthology)
- Baat Phoolon ki (short story anthology)
- Dus Pratinidhi Kahaniyan (short story anthology) ISBN 9788189859244
- Addu (short story anthology)
