Persian scholar Padma Shri Asifa Zamani laid to rest

Lucknow: Padma Shri recipient Persian scholar Asifa Zamani was laid to rest at Aishbagh cemetery on Saturday, She died after a prolonged illness on Friday. She was 80. Zamani is survived by her son, Asif Z Rizvi.Born on Mar 22, 1945, Zamani built a distinguished career in Persian studies. She served as professor and later head of the Persian department of Lucknow University. Her academic contributions include over 200 research papers published in prestigious journals in Iran, US and Pakistan.Zamani authored several acclaimed works, including Aabgeena, Ehsas e Bekaran, Adhura Safar and Lakeerein Hath Ki. In recognition of her excellence, she was honoured with Padma Shri in 2004, President of India Certificate of Honour in 1999 and Jaiza-e-Sadi Award of Iranian govt in 2009.Married to former UP cabinet minister Aijaz Rizvi, Zamani was also an advocate for social causes and women's empowerment. She received the Women Empowerment Award from Lucknow University in 2002 and a Special Award for Social Services from the Indian Care and Welfare Society in 2009.The literary community mourned her loss. Sabira Habib, former professor of Russian at LU, said, "I had a deep and cordial connection with Asifa. She was a brilliant scholar and a humble, sweet person. Her death is great loss for the literary world."Philosopher and former Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof Roop Rekha Verma, added, "She was a wonderful human being and an exceptional scholar. I pay my deepest condolences to her."