17 years on, Abeda Azad's legacy lives on

Fans and followers of celebrated activist-journalist and author Dr Abeda Iqbal Azad will ob-serve her 14th death anniversary on Monday, April 20, with a series of commemorative activities al-ready underway to honour her enduring legacy.

In tribute to her life and work, her admirers have run a 20-day diary series beginning April 1, sharing daily reflections, excerpts from her writings, and personal accounts of how her words influenced readers across generations. Widely circulated on social media, the series has revived interest in her work and created a collective space of remembrance, with each entry offering insight into her thought process, convictions and lived experiences.

Alongside the online initiative, literary organisations and civil society groups are expected to hold sem-inars, discussions, and reading sessions in her memory.

Literary critic Zaib Azkaar Hussain described her as a bold activist, saying her poetry rejects all forms of exploitation, including male domination, inequality, and violations of fundamental rights.

He said she stands for peace and the promotion of healthy social values. He added that while her poetic form and presentation may be debated, her sincerity, diction and metaphors reflect a powerful social con-science that cannot be questioned.