LAHORE: Publisher and writer Abdur Rauf Malik was laid to rest at a local graveyard in Johar Town on Saturday evening. He was 95.

Malik’s wife died from coronavirus complications a week ago while he also died from the virus. He leaves behind two sons and a daughter.

His funeral prayers were held in the Board of Revenue Society, Johar Town.

Malik was the owner of People’s Publishing House. He also wrote a number of books, including his memoirs, titled Surkh Siasat (Kitab-i-Zeest Ke Chand Katey Phhattey Auraq).

He joined Communist Party of India (CPI) in 1945. He had been running a centre for the dissemination of communist literature for decades. He was a trendsetter in the publication of Progressive writers’ works, which included Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s outstanding collection of verse, Dast-i-Saba; Ahmad Rahi’s pioneering contribution to Punjabi poetry, Taranjan; Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi’s collection of poems, Shola-i-Gul; and publication of Amrita Pritam’s first post-Partition Pakistani collection.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2021