KARACHI, Aug 3: Noted scholar, researcher and literary icon Dr Farman Fatehpuri died after a long illness on Saturday. He was 87.

He is survived by his wife, four daughters and two sons.

Dr Fatehpuri was born in Fatehpur, India, in 1926. He did his matriculation from Madressah Islamia Fatehpur and BA from Agra University.

In 1950, Dr Fatehpuri migrated to Pakistan and settled in Karachi. Eight years later, he received his master’s degree in Urdu from Karachi University, securing first position. In 1965, he did his doctoral thesis on the topic ‘Urdu Mein Manzoom Daastanein’ (Urdu stories in verse).

In 1974, he did his DLitt on ‘Urdu Shu’ra Ke Tazkarey Aur Tazkira Nigari’ (biographies of Urdu poets), which was the first DLitt degree to be conferred on anyone in Pakistan. He remained associated with the University of Karachi’s Urdu department for three decades and in 1985 served as chief editor in and secretary of the Urdu Dictionary Board.

Dr Fatehpuri wrote many books and was regarded as an authority on Ghalib and Iqbal. Some of his widely read books are Urdu Rubaee, Urdu Ki Manzoom Daastan, Naya Aur Purana Adab, Mirza Shoq Ki Masnaviyan, Urdu Imla Aur Rasmul Khat, Urdu Ki Naa’tiya Shaeri, Iqbal Sub Ke Liyey and Ghalib Shaer-i-Imroz-o-Farda.

Dr Fatehpuri was a student and admirer of distinguished scholar Niaz Fatehpuri who used to edit and publish a respected literary magazine Nigar.

After Niaz sahib’s death, Dr Farman Fatehpuri published the magazine under his editorship.

The government of Pakistan awarded him with the Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 1985.

Namaz-i-Janaza will be held at Masjid-i-Khlufa-i-Rashideen, Block 13-D-1 after Zuhar prayers on Sunday and he will be laid to rest in the Karachi University graveyard.