Rakhshanda Jalil is a distinguished Indian writer, translator, and literary historian known for her significant contributions to Urdu literature. Born in Delhi on July 20, 1963, Rakhshanda Jalil is a prominent writer, critic, and literary historian with over 25 years of experience. Her work primarily focuses on Urdu literature, which she has enriched through her extensive writings and translations.
Dr. Jalil has an impressive body of published work, including several books, academic papers, and essays. Her original works feature a diverse range of subjects and formats.
Authored Books: Her publications include Invisible City; a collection of stories titled Release & Other Stories; a detailed account of the Progressive Writers’ Movement in Urdu called Liking Progress, Loving Change: A Literary History of the Progressive Writers Movement in Urdu; and a biography of the feminist Urdu writer Dr. Rashid Jahan, titled A Rebel and her Cause.
Translations: She is a celebrated translator. Her translation of Intizar Husain’s novel The Sea Lies Ahead was awarded the KLF Peace Prize by the Karachi Litfest and the German Embassy. She also translated a collection of Husain’s short stories, published as The Death of Sheherzad.
Edited Collections: Jalil has edited collections of feminist poetry and has done extensive work exploring Partition literature.
Jalil is deeply committed to promoting literature and culture. She runs an organisation named Hindustani Awaaz, which is devoted to popularising Hindi-Urdu literature and culture. Additionally, she actively promotes lesser-known Urdu poets and strives to foster an interest in diverse languages among the youth, making her a vital figure in contemporary Indian literary discourse.
For her significant contributions, Jalil has been honoured with several prestigious awards. These include the Kaifi Azmi Award for her work in Urdu and the Jawad Memorial Prize for her outstanding translation work.