Karnataka Sahitya Academy awardee Sara Abubakkar passes away at 86

MANGALURU: Veteran writer and Karnataka Sahitya Academy awardee Sara Abubakar passed away at the age of 86 in a private hospital Mangaluru on Tuesday afternoon.

Sara was born on June 30, 1936 to Advocate P Ahmad and Zainabi, a Malayalam-speaking family, at Chandragiri in Kasaragod. She was one of the first girls in her community in Kasargod to be educated, graduating from a local Kannada school.

Some of her popular books include ‘Chandragiriya Teeradalli’, ‘Hottu Kanthuva Munna’ among others. Most of her works emphasised on the tribulations in Muslims as well as women empowerment. Her books have dealt with complex subjects such as marital rape, communal and religious violence and individual freedom.

Sara Abubakar wrote more than 10 novels, six short story collections, five radio plays, four articles and one travelogue (illustrating her journey). She had been conferred with more than 11 awards.

She was noted for speaking against ‘wahabism’ in Saudi Arabia and for her views on imparting education to Muslim girls. She is survived by four sons and a host of relatives, well-wishers and friends.

Necessary arrangements were made for the public to pay their last respects to the writer at her Mangaluru residence near Lady Hill. The last rites were held late on Tuesday evening.