Rahman Abbas
Rahman Abbas | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 30, 1972 |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Known for | Urdu and English novels, Sahitya Akademi Award winner |
| Notable work | Rohzin, Khuda Ke Saaye Mein Ankh Micholi, Nakhalistan Ki Talash |
Rahman Abbas (born 30 January 1972) is a distinguished Indian novelist known for his award-winning fiction. He earned the eminent Sahitya Akademi Award in 2018 for his fourth novel, Rohzin. Additionally, he has been honored with two State Academy Awards for his third and fourth novels, Hide and Seek in the Shadow of God (2011) and Rohzin (2017). Abbas stands out as the sole Indian novelist whose German-language work secured a LitProm Grant, supported by the German Federal Foreign Office and the Swiss-South Cultural Fund. His literary creations, primarily composed in Urdu and English, delve into themes surrounding forbidden love and political taboos.
Recognized by Rekhta—the largest digital platform for Urdu literature—Abbas ranks among the most widely read Urdu novelists. Penguin Random House released the English translation of Rohzin in May 2022. This novel was longlisted for the 2022 JCB Prize, India's most lucrative literary accolade, underscoring its significant commercial appeal and critical acclaim.
Life and career
Abbas possesses master's degrees in Urdu and English literature from the University of Mumbai.
He has authored ten books, including six novels: Nakhalistan Ki Talash (The Search of an Oasis, 2004), Ek Mamnua Muhabbat Ki Kahani (A Forbidden Love Story, 2009), Khuda Ke Saaye Mein Ankh Micholi (Hide and Seek in the Shadow of God, 2011), Rohzin (The Melancholy of the Soul, 2016), Zindeeq (Heretic), and Ek Tarha Ka Pagalpan (A Sort of Madness).
His first novel, Nakhalistan Ki Talash, was met with accusations of obscenity by conservative groups, resulting in his arrest and a short incarceration at Arthur Road Jail. After a ten-year legal battle, he was acquitted in 2016. The book ignited controversy within traditional Urdu literary communities, compelling Abbas to resign from his lecturing role in Mumbai. The narrative portrays a young Muslim man’s sense of alienation following the 1992 Mumbai riots, his association with a Kashmiri militant faction, and his confrontation with cultural identity amid escalating right-wing political forces in India.
In 2011, Rahman received the state Sahitya Akademi Award for Khuda Ke Saaye Mein Ankh Micholi. However, he returned this honor in 2015 as part of a collective protest by Indian authors against growing societal intolerance linked to right-wing political movements.
Critical reputation
Pakistani writer Mustansar Hussain Tarar praised Rahman’s novel Rohzin as a bold and imaginative narrative. Professor Gopichand Narang, former president of the Sahitya Akademi, regarded Rohzin as a landmark moment in the evolution of Urdu fiction.
Awards and honours
- 2011 Maharashtra State Urdu Sahitya Akademy Award for Khuda Ke Saaye Mein Ankh Micholi
- 2017 Maharashtra State Urdu Sahitya Akademy Award for Rohzin
- 2018 Main Sahitya Akademi Award for Rohzin
- 2022 Longlisting of Rohzin (English) for the JCB Prize, India’s most prestigious literary award
- 2024 Shortlisting of Rohzin (English) for the Muse India 2023 GSP Rao Translation Award
Works
- Nakhalistan Ki Talash [The Search of an Oasis], (Novel-2004)
- Ek Mamnua Muhabbat Ki Kahani [A Forbidden Love Story], (Novel-2009)
- Khuda Ke Saaye Mein Ankh Micholi [Hide and Seek in the Shadow of God] (Novel-2011)
- Rohzin [The Melancholy of the Soul], (Novel-2016)
- Zindeeq [Atheist or Apostate], initially published by Arshia Publications, New Delhi in November 2021; Pakistani edition issued by Aks Publications in January 2022. This dystopian work addresses the surge of religious extremism across India and Pakistan.
- Ek Tarha Ka Pagalpan [A Sort of Madness], (2024)
- On the Other Side (Urdu title: Khuda Ke Saaye Mein Ankh Micholi), published in English by Penguin Random House, India.
In 2013, Arshia Publication released a trilogy compiling his early works under the title Teen Novels (ISBN 978-93-81029-29-9).