The Urdu writer, Zeenath Sajida dominated the literary and intellectual circles of Hyderabad for half a century. Often compared with Ismat Chughtai for her boldness, defiance and verbal craft, Zeenath wrote a number of popular short stories. But she was best known for her humorous khaake (pen portraits) and inshaaiye (light sketches). Yet, her work has rarely been curated and translated for an English reader. Nazia Akhtar’s nuanced translation brings Zeenath’s sparkling wit and eloquent prose to a new readership and reminds us of the neglected legacy of Hyderabadi women writers. Through The Deccan Sun we celebrate Zeenath Sajida’s place in a larger tradition of Urdu writing and culture, while also specifically enriching and diversifying perspectives on women’s writing in Urdu.’
