Capital loss: An era ends with the passing of Sadia Dehlvi
Ahandful of families can rightfully claim to be the earliest settlers of Delhi. Sadia Dehlvi belonged to one such family, of traders, who took on the name Dehlvi. Sadia, 63, died at her Nizamuddin East home on Wednesday, after a long battle with cancer. Her son, musician Arman Ali Dehlvi, was by her side.
In her lifetime, Sadia donned many hats — author, journalist, scriptwriter. She also wrote a column for Hindustan Times.
Author Rakhshanda Jalil wants to celebrate her life. “I want to remember her for the sparkling person she was. She could really spin a story with a twinkle in her eye.”
A devotee of the Chishti order of Sufism, Sadia was most at peace at the dargahs of Ajmer Sharif and Nizamuddin Auliya. Haji Syed Salman Chishty, Dargah Ajmer Sharif, says, “Sadia
Aapa has always been so full of life. Her home was the essence of Tehzib-e-dilli — the immaculate culture as well as hospitality of Delhi. For us, visiting Delhi will never be the same.”
Author Bhaichand Patel, who knew Sadia for over three decades, remembers her love for life. “She was always helpful, everybody loved her,” he says.
Author and lawyer Saif Mahmood remembers her as feisty: “She typified the Shahjahanabadi culture even while driving the image of the traditional Muslim woman away from the stairs of the Jama Masjid and bringing it centrestage. To me, it seems she will pop out from somewhere, laal gulaab in hair, and say, ‘Chalo ab ho gaya rona dhona, celebrate me now’.”
Anuj Bahri, of Bahrisons Booksellers, says she visited them often. In true Dilli style, he pens an ode to her:
Dilli ki nazaakat
Ko dekha hai kareeb se Tum woh lau ho
Jo dilli ke dil se roshan rahe gi