Rahman Abbas

Abbas has master's degrees in Urdu and English literature from University of Mumbai.{{cite web|title=rahmanabbas.in/|url=http://rahmanabbas.in/|website=rahmanabbas.in|accessdate=15 June 2020|archive-date=24 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924141007/http://rahmanabbas.in/|url-status=dead}}

Rahman Abbas is author of 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). and Zindeeq (Heretic). and Ek Tarha Ka Pagalpan{{cite web | url=https://www.mukaalma.com/186345/ | title=ایک طرح کا پاگل پن/محمد عامر حسینی | date=16 January 2024 }} (A Sort of Madness) {{cite web|last=Dutta-Asane|first=Sucharita|date=12 May 2018|title=Rohzin: First Urdu novel to be discussed in Germany|url=https://kitaab.org/2018/05/12/rohzin-first-urdu-novel-to-be-discussed-across-cities-in-germany/|access-date=5 January 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/books/rahman-abbas-english-writers-enjoy-more-freedom-than-us|title=Rahman Abbas: 'English writers enjoy more freedom than us'|website=OPEN Magazine|date=21 September 2018 |access-date=5 January 2019}}{{cite web | url=https://dialoguetimes.com/zindeeq-interprets-the-dreams-of-the-future-dr-shahid-iqbal-kamran/?fbclid=IwAR1FfvG8mVMuoikUzTuL7YkekWghopoTtfd60Ka552LqdAxunfC4n29Ci6c | title=Zindeeq-Interprets the Dreams of the Future: Dr Shahid Iqbal Kamran | date=25 February 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://en.qantara.de/content/rahman-abbas-zindeeq-whos-learning-lessons-from-the-holocaust | title=Rahman Abbas' "Zindeeq": Who's learning lessons from the Holocaust? - Qantara.de | date=31 August 2022 }}

Rahman's first novel is Nakhalistan Ki Talash (Search of an Oasis) published in 2004. The fundamentalists had alleged that the novel is an obscene book. He was arrested and had to spend a few days at Arthur Road Jail. However, he was subsequently acquitted by the court in 2016. In an interview, he stated about this painful experience- "After a decade, the trial ended, but for all those years, I had to go to the court and stand in front of the judge, like Josef K. in Franz Kafka's The Trial, not knowing what his crime was.{{cite web | url=https://thefederal.com/features/bombay-is-the-cultural-and-psychic-cradle-of-my-characters-rahman-abbas/ | title=Bombay is the cultural and psychic cradle of my characters: Rahman Abbas | date=5 September 2022 }}{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/mumbai-urdu-author-bags-sahitya-akademi-award/articleshow/66980767.cms|title=Mumbai Urdu author bags Sahitya Akademi award - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=7 December 2018 |access-date=5 January 2019}}{{cite web|last=Nair|first=Rohini|date=11 September 2016|title=A colonial era law was used against Urdu writer Rahman Abbas; 10 years later, he's finally free|url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/a-colonial-era-law-was-used-against-urdu-writer-rahman-abbas-10-years-later-hes-finally-free-2998022.html|access-date=5 January 2019|website=Firstpost}} Nakhlistan Ki Talash had created a storm in the conservative Urdu literary circles, and Rahman resigned from his post as lecturer in a junior college in Mumbai.{{cite web|last=Roy|first=Anwar Sen|date=29 December 2005|title=|script-title=ur:اردو فکشن 2005: دو متنازعہ کتابیں|trans-title=Urdu fiction 2005: two controversial books|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/miscellaneous/story/2005/12/051228_fictionurdu_2005_sen.shtml|work=bbc.co.uk|language=Urdu}} The novel tells the story of a young educated Muslim man whose increasing alienation in a post-1992 Mumbai leads him to a Kashmiri militant organization. He finds his cultural identity blurred during the rise of the right-wing and hate-filled politics in India at the turn of the century. He tries to demonstrate his identity and historic self, ultimately leading to his tragic and mysterious end.{{cite web|title=The great divide {{ndash}} 'The hardliners are getting marginalised by the day'|date=12 September 2004|work=The Telegraph (Calcutta)|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040912/asp/opinion/story_3747293.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041204202840/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040912/asp/opinion/story_3747293.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 December 2004}}

He won the state Sahitya Akademi Award in 2011 for his third didactic novel Khuda Ke Saaye Mein Ankh Micholi. He returned the award in 2015 when major Indian writers and artists had protested against the 'wave of intolerance in Indian society' triggered by the right-wing politics'.{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-dadri-lynching-urdu-writer-rahman-abbas-to-return-award-in-protest-2133083|title=Dadri lynching: Urdu writer Rahman Abbas to return award in protest|date=9 October 2015|website=dna|access-date=5 January 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/urdu-writer-joins-protest-to-return-prize/article7740137.ece|title=Urdu writer joins protest, to return prize|first=Rini|last=Mukkath|newspaper=The Hindu|date=9 October 2015|access-date=5 January 2019|via=thehindu.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/novelist-sara-joseph-returns-akademi-award-says-intolerance-is-visible-everywhere/20151010.htm|title=Novelist Sara Joseph returns Akademi Award; says intolerance is visible everywhere|website=Rediff|access-date=5 January 2019}}

Pakistani author Mustansar Hussain Tarar stated that Rahman's latest novel Rohzin is a fearless creative narration. Professor Gopichand Narang, former president of Sahitya Academy, called Rohzin a turning point in the history of Urdu novels.{{cite web|last=SALAM|first=ZIYA US|title=Writers and thinkers should speak up|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/writers-and-thinkers-should-speak-up/article8409048.ece|access-date=5 January 2019|website=Frontline|date=30 March 2016 }}{{cite web|title=Rohzin, A Novel by Rahman Abbas. Password Ep91|url=http://siasat-pk.com/showthread.php?27956-Rohzin-A-Novel-by-Rahman-Abbas-Password-Ep91|access-date=5 January 2019|website=siasat-pk.com|archive-date=19 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919211526/http://siasat-pk.com/showthread.php?27956-Rohzin-A-Novel-by-Rahman-Abbas-Password-Ep91|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Rohzin: A monologue to soul - The Indian Awaaz|date=23 May 2016|url=http://theindianawaaz.com/rohzin-a-monologue-to-soul/|accessdate=5 January 2019}}{{cite web|title=Best Digital Marketing & Photography Institute in Mulund,Mumbai|url=http://www.tscmc.in/cmcdiarie/cmcevening-rohzin/|website=TSCMC|accessdate=15 June 2020|archive-date=17 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517234211/http://www.tscmc.in/cmcdiarie/cmcevening-rohzin/|url-status=dead}}

• 2011 Maharashtra State Urdu Sahitya Akademy Award for Khuda Ke Saaye Mein Ankh Micholi{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/dadri-incident-urdu-writer-rahman-abbas-to-return-award-in-protest/articleshow/49286621.cms|title=Dadri incident: Urdu writer Rahman Abbas to return award in protest|date=9 October 2015|access-date=5 January 2019|newspaper=The Economic Times}}
• 2017 Maharashtra State Urdu Sahitya Akademy Award for Rohzin{{cite web|url=https://cafedissensusblog.com/2018/05/10/rahman-abbas-rohzin-first-urdu-novel-to-be-discussed-in-germany/|title=Rahman Abbas' 'Rohzin': First Urdu novel to be discussed in Germany|first=Create a free website or blog at|last=WordPress.com|date=10 May 2018|access-date=5 January 2019}}
• 2018 Main Sahitya Akademi Award for Rohzin
• 2022 Rohzin (English) longlisted for JCB Prize, which is the richest literary prize in India.{{cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/books-and-literature/the-jcb-prize-for-literature-announces-2022s-longlist-of-10-incredible-books-8128473/ | title=JCB Prize for Literature announces 2022's longlist of 10 'incredible' books | date=3 September 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://scroll.in/article/1031939/jcb-prize-for-literature-2022-six-translations-two-from-urdu-feature-in-the-longlist-of-10-novels | title=JCB Prize for Literature 2022: Six translations (Two from Urdu) feature in the longlist of 10 novels | date=3 September 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://mediabrief.com/2022-jcb-prize-for-literature-unveils-longlist-for-fifth-edition/ | title=2022 JCB Prize for Literature unveils longlist for fifth edition | date=5 September 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://thenewpublishingstandard.com/2022/09/04/india-jcb-prize-for-literature-announces-2022s-longlist/ | title=India - JCB Prize for Literature announces 2022's longlist | date=4 September 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.onmanorama.com/lifestyle/news/2022/09/05/longlist-jcb-prize-literature-2022-announced.html | title=Longlist of JCB Prize for Literature 2022 announced }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejcbprize.org/|title=JCB Book Awards | Literature Award India | JCB Book Prize|website=www.thejcbprize.org|accessdate=13 December 2022}}
• 2024 Rohzin (English) Shortlisted for the Muse India 2023 GSP Rao Translation Award {{cite web | url=https://scroll.in/article/1064589/muse-india-announces-ten-book-shortlist-for-its-2024-gsp-rao-translation-award | title='Muse India' announces ten-book shortlist for its 2023 GSP Rao Translation Award | date=2 March 2024 }}

• 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], First published by Arshia Publications, New Delhi in November 2021, Pakistani Edition was published by Aks Publications[https://www.akspublications.com/product/zinqeed-%d8%b2%d9%86%d8%af%db%8c%d9%82/ Aks Publications] {{dead link|date=December 2022}} in January 2022. Zindeeq is a dystopian novel that seriously deals with the rise of religious extremism in subcontinent India and Pakistan.{{cite web | url=https://kitaab.org/2022/03/07/literary-news-reception-of-zindeeq-in-india-and-pakistan-a-large-canvas-novel-by-rahman-abbas/ | title=Literary News: Reception of Zindeeq in India and Pakistan - A large canvas novel by Rahman Abbas | date=7 March 2022 }}
• Ek Tarha Ka Pagalpan [A Sort of Madness], {{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-01-09 |title=رحمان عباس اور ایک طرح کا پاگل پن |url=https://dailypakistan.pk/%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%A7%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%AD-%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D9%BE%D8%A7%DA%AF%D9%84-%D9%BE%D9%86/ |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=Daily Pakistan |language=ur}}{{cite web | url=https://www.mukaalma.com/186345/ | title=ایک طرح کا پاگل پن/محمد عامر حسینی | date=16 January 2024 }}
• On the Other Side (Urdu title- Khuda Ke Saaye Mein Ankh Micholi) published in English by Penguin Random House, India. {{cite web | url=https://www.penguin.co.in/book/on-the-other-side/ | title=On the Other Side }}

A trilogy of his early writing, entitled Teen Novels ({{ISBN|978-93-81029-29-9}}), was published in 2013 by Arshia Publication.

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Category:Living people

Category:1972 births

Category:Urdu-language novelists

Category:Indian male novelists

Category:21st-century Indian novelists

Category:University of Mumbai alumni

Category:21st-century Indian male writers

Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu