KARACHI, July 9: In the death of Sundri Utamchandani, Sindhi literature has lost an eminent prose writer, poet, translator and actor.

She died in a Bombay hospital on Monday. Ms Utamchandani was 89.

Born to a small business family in Hyderabad, Sindh on September 28, 1924, she did her schooling at Tolaram Girls High School completing her matriculation in 1942.

She wanted to enter the medical profession but since there was no medical college in Hyderabad, she was unable to fulfil her wish.

Ms Utamchandani did her Intermediate in science subjects from Banaras Hindu University but abandoned further education.

Meanwhile, she married Asandas Utamchandani, who encouraged her to pursue her studies. Thanks to her supportive husband she pursued higher studies and graduated from Banaras Hindu University in 1949.

Her further education was also made possible for her as her family had migrated to India during Independence.

From an early age she was a voracious reader. In India, she did her Masters in Sindhi and English from S.N.D.T. Women’s University in Mumbai. Later she joined J.K. Khalnani College as a lecturer. She was also fond of singing and formally learnt the art.

During her school days she worked as an assistant at Sathi, a women’s magazine from Karachi, and also acted in stage plays.

She was influenced by the Progressive Movement and became a staunch follower of the movement.

Moreover, as she grew older she became secular, liberal and unbiased.

Her literary career began when she started to translate short stories from foreign literature. Besides translations she wrote short stories that appeared in Naeen Duniya, Marui, Sageeta and other literary magazines.

Besides short stories she also composed poetry and translated works of foreign poets. She also dabbled in novel writing, her first novel being Kirandar Diwaroon that appeared in 1953 and has also been translated in many languages.

Her major works include Kirandar Diwaroon (novel, 1953), Preet Purani Reet Nirali (novel, 1956), Tutal Saaz (trans 1956), Achha Vaar Garha Gul (short stories, 1965), Amn Sade Piyo (essays, 1966), To Jineen Taat (short stories, 1970), Sholokhov Ji Jhalak (trans 1975), Naoon Janam (trans1978), Hik Sasui Sau Soor (tr 1978), Kunwarin Dharti (trans 1979), Bhoori (short stories, 1979), Naeen Sabhita Jo Darshan (trans 1980), Bandhan (short stories, 1982).

Her book Vichhoro, a compilation of nine short stories, appeared in 1986 which was awarded by India’s Academy of Letters.

Her plays Amulah Mankan Jo Vapar, Saaheri that were included in Sindhu in 2000 earned her many laurels.

Besides prose she also composed poems in both traditional meters and free verse form. She has also to her credit two poetry anthologies Huggau (1993) and Ddat Bani Laat (2004).

Her writings are significant because they came at a time when it was taboo for women to write fiction and it was unthinkable for them to work in magazines and newspapers.

She was hailed by literary organizations presenting her with literary awards.

Ms Utamchandani made strenuous efforts in urging the Indian government to recognize Sindhi as an official language.