Jeelani Bano

• Name — Jeelani Bano • Born — 14 July 1936 • Birthplace — Budaun, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India • Died — 1 March 2026 • Place of death — Hyderabad, Telangana, India • Occupation — * Litterateur • novelist • author • Known for — Novel, short story • Awards — Padma Shri Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi Award Soviet Land Nehru Award Qaumi Haali Award NTR national Literary Award

Jeelani Bano was born on 14 July 1936 in Badayun, in United Provinces of Agra and Oudh to Hairat Badayuni, a known Urdu poet. After her schooling, she enrolled for intermediate course when she married Anwar Moazzam, a poet of repute and a former head of the Department of Islamic Studies at the Osmania University and shifted to Hyderabad. She continued her education to secure a master's degree (MA) in Urdu.

Bano started writing at an early age, reported to be at the age of eight, and her first story, Ek Nazar Idhar Bhi (A Glance Hither), was published in 1952. She was credited with 22 books comprising anthologies starting with Roshni ke Minar and novels beginning with Aiwaan-e-ghazal. Her list of books includes an autobiography, Afzane and a collection of her correspondence with other writers, Door ki Aawaazen. One of her stories, Narsayya Ki Bavdi, has been made into a 2009 feature film, Well Done Abba by the renowned filmmaker, Shyam Benegal. Many of her books have been translated into other languages. Jeelani Bano, a former Chairperson of the non governmental organization for women's rights, Asmita, lived in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. She was also associated with Youth for Action of which she was a former chairperson, Child and Women Human Rights, a forum of the International Human Rights Association of India as its principal advisor and maintains associations with radio and television.

Bano died on 1 March 2026, at the age of 89.

She had been writing since 1954 in Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati and Telugu. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * • Raat ke Musafir (short story anthology) • Tiryaaq (short story anthology) • Nayee Aurat (short story anthology) • Sach ke siva (short story anthology) • Baat Phoolon ki (short story anthology) • Dus Pratinidhi Kahaniyan (short story anthology) • Addu (short story anthology)