Frontlist News | Renowned writer, activist, filmmaker Sadia Dehlvi dies

Frontlist News | Renowned writer, activist, filmmaker Sadia Dehlvi dies
on Aug 07, 2020

Eminent Delhi-based activist, writer, columnist, filmmaker Sadia Dehlvi passed away on August 5, 2020 after a two-year long brave battle with metastatic breast cancer. Dehlvi was admitted to a city hospital recently where she was undergoing treatment. Dehlvi was born in 1957, Delhi. A Sufi at heart, she had criticised Islam's radical interpretations and instead had called for an inclusive and liberal understanding of the religion. Her first book on Sufism titled 'Sufism: The heart of Islam' was published in 2009 by HarperCollins India which brought her in the limelight. Her other popular books include 'The Sufi Courtyard: Dargahs of Delhi' (2012) and 'Jasmine and Jinns: Memories and Recipes of My Delhi' (2017). An important chronicler of Delhi's culture and Sufism, Dehlvi wrote on a range of issues like minorities, women, Islamic spirituality and Delhi’s rich heritage in a career spanning roughly four decades-- all of which she was passionate about. She was also a filmmaker and her works included the famous series 'The Sufi Courtyard', 'Amma and Family' featuring Zohra Sehgal and 'Not a Nice Man to Know' with Khushwant Singh. The multi-talented writer-activist-filmmaker was also a dear friend of the late author Khushwant Singh. So much so that Singh frequently mentioned her in his works-- be it dedicating his book 'Not a Nice Man to Know' to Dehlvi or writing about her in his book 'Men and Women in My Life'. Dehlvi had recently turned 63 on her birthday on June 16, 2020. Reacting to the news of Dehlvi's untimely death, her friends, readers and followers expressed their grief on social media. Here's what some people tweeted:   Sadia Dehlvi's demise has left a huge void in the Delhi literary and socialite circuit. She will forever be remembered for her immense contributions to Sufism, food and culture and as a true Dilliwala, just like her surname signified her family's centuries old link to the city.