Lucknow: Veteran journalist, author and academic Mehru Jaffer, whose writings captured Lucknow’s cultural, literary and spiritual heritage, died in Goa on Wednesday. She was 75. She is survived by her two sons, Ali and Jaffer. Her burial is scheduled for Friday after they arrive from Austria.Born and raised in Lucknow, Jaffer was among the city’s pioneering women journalists.During a career spanning over four decades, she worked across journalism, academia, publishing and films, documenting Lucknow’s history, architecture, literature and composite culture.She began her career with National Herald before joining The Pioneer in Lucknow and later India Today in New Delhi and several other leading publication houses. In recent years, she served as editor-at-large of The Citizen.After her marriage, Jaffer moved to Vienna, where she lived for nearly three decades. Alongside journalism, she taught Islam in South Asia and Gender and Religion at universities in Vienna. She authored books on Sufi saints and Islamic history, including works on Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, Salim Chishti and Prophet Muhammad. Her final book, Love Lanes of Lucknow, celebrated the city’s heritage, neighbourhoods, cuisine and literary traditions.Her creative work also extended to cinema. She directed the documentary Mr. Khan Vienna Loves You in 2010 and later worked with the creative and casting teams of Gulabo Sitabo and A Suitable Boy.Jaffer was the daughter of actor Farrukh Jaffar and freedom fighter and politician Syed Muhammad Jaffar. She was associated with theatre from her student days and trained at the Bhartendu Natya Akademi before entering journalism.Her sister, Shahein Jaffer, said Mehru had recently shifted to Goa and remained active in literary circles until her final days.“She never believed in slowing down. She was always reading, writing and meeting people. Her health deteriorated suddenly over the past few days,” she said.Paying tribute, Jyotsna Kaur Habibullah said, “Love Lanes of Lucknow reflected Mehru’s lifelong bond with the city. She had an exceptional understanding of its history, culture and people, and preserved many stories that might otherwise have been forgotten.”Senior journalist Pradeep Kapoor said Jaffer helped pave the way for women in journalism in Lucknow.“Even after spending decades abroad, she remained closely connected with the city and continued writing about its history, Sufi traditions and literary heritage,” he said.Senior journalist Naveen Joshi wrote on social media that Jaffer was among the pioneering women journalists in Uttar Pradesh.“Even after settling in Goa, her connection with Lucknow never weakened. She leaves behind an important body of work on the city’s history and culture.”Veteran actor and theatre personality Dr Anil Rastogi recalled her association with Lucknow’s theatre movement.“Mehru Jaffer shared a long association with Lucknow’s theatre and literary circles from her student days. She trained at the Bhartendu Natya Akademi and remained closely connected with local artists even after moving abroad. Whenever she returned to Lucknow, she made time for theatre, literature and old friends,” he said.
