Sara Aboobacker brought Muslim women's plight under spotlight

MANGALURU: Eminent Kannada writer Sara Aboobacker, who highlighted the plight and predicament of marginalized Muslim women in the border district of Kasaragod through stark novels and short stories in her decades-long literary innings, passed away at a private hospital in Mangaluru on Tuesday. She was 87.
Sara was born to advocate P Ahmed and Zainabi on June 30, 1936 in a village on the banks of Chandragiri river in Kasaragod district of Kerala. She completed schooling in Kasaragod. She was the first Muslim girl in the district to complete SSLC in 1953. The same year, she was married to M Aboobacker, an engineer from Mangaluru. She is survived by four sons.
Sara is, perhaps, among the few - if not the only -- woman writers who have emerged from the Muslim community in this region and demonstrated admirable courage in taking up issues on behalf of the women of her community through her writings. Written in lucid style, her works were appreciated in Karnataka and Kerala where she is widely translated and discussed. The focus of her writing was largely on the lives of Muslim women living in the Kasaragod region.
Sara was inspired by legendary Malayalam writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. Her first novel 'Chandragiriya Theeradalli' was well appraised by the literary world. The book was translated into Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Oriya.
Sara fought for women's education
Sara has written 10 novels, six anthologies of short stories, five dramas for radio and travelogues. She fought for the education of women. She is the author of novels Sahana, Vajragalu, Kadanavirama, Suliyalli Sikkavaru, Tala Odeda Doniyalli, Pravaha Suli, Panjara, Ilijaaru and Kaanike. Sara has translated several Malayalam books to Kannada, including 'Manomi' by Kamala Das.
Sara served as president of Karavali Lekhakiyara Mattu Vachakiyara Sangha. She has received Karnataka Sahitya Academy, Karnataka Rajyotsava awards, Nadoja Award from Kannada University, Hampi, in 2006 and an honorary doctorate from Mangalore University in 2008.
CPI Dakshina Kannada district secretary B Shekhar said Sara was not just a litterateur, but a social activist with real concern towards society. The writer had made communal harmony a prominent aspect in life, he added. Pragathipara Chinthakara Vedike secretary Krishnappa Konchady said Sara gave predominant consideration for human rights and progressive ideologies in her life. DYFI state president Muneer Katipalla said the writer was an inspiration for activists who led fights for equality of women and human rights.