Hyderabad, March 4 -- Small in stature but towering in influence, Jeelani Banu was a formidable voice for women and the marginalised. Through her pen, she persistently challenged oppression and social injustice, earning a place among the most distinguished figures in Urdu literature. With her recent passing, the literary world has lost not just a prolific writer but a conscience-keeper whose stories illuminated the lived realities of women with rare sensitivity and courage.

A recipient of the Padma Shri, Banu authored more than 20 books, besides writing three television serials and a telefilm. Her works travelled far beyond linguistic boundaries, finding readers through translations into over a dozen Indian languages. Journalist PV Surya...