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Pakistan’s literary giant and internationally celebrated author Bapsi Sidhwa, whose works brought South Asia’s historical and cultural narratives to a global audience, passed away on Wednesday in Houston, Texas at 86.

Over the years, her writings, steeped in the complexities of Partition, identity, and belonging, left an indelible mark on readers around the world. Her passing has elicited an outpouring of grief and admiration from fans, literary enthusiasts, and celebrities alike.

Actor Nadia Jamil shared a heartfelt Instagram post featuring cherished moments with the late author. “There will only ever be ONE Legendary Bapsi Sidhwa,” Jamil wrote. “RIP Bapsi Khala. You are a legend. A beautiful writer, woman, human becoming, a mentor, a friend, a loving soul. Be in eternal bliss and peace.” She also expressed gratitude for Sidhwa’s mentorship and their bond, and added a note in which the late writer declared Jamil her “adopted daughter.”

Actor Ali Rehman Khan shared an Instagram Story writing, “Another legend is gone. RIP Bapsi.”

Social media was flooded with tributes to the author. A user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “The pioneer of English literature from Bapsi Sidhwa passes away. Her literary contributions changed hearts and minds, beautifully depicting the contradictory class and gendered processes a former British colony undergoes while metamorphosing into a post-colonial Islamic republic.”

Another lamented, “What a terrible loss! The world has lost a lighthouse of storytelling.”

A user wrote, “Curtains draw on yet another stellar inning — rest in power, Bapsi Sidhwa”

Fans celebrated her most famous works, with one writing, “Rest in peace Bapsi Sidhwa. Her writing touched many hearts and her work will always be remembered. Bapsi’s Ice Candy Man is my all-time favourite book. A powerful, painful story about the 1947 partition of India.”

Another added, “One of her most renowned novels, Ice Candy Man, was written in 1988 and published in the US four years later under the title Cracking India. In 1998, it was adapted into the film Earth by director Deepa Mehta. #BapsiSidhwa”

Some also highlighted her influence on their personal lives: “Rest in peace #BapsiSidhwa. Your book The Bride mesmerized me for days. I still dream of visiting #Kohistan one day.”

A user said, “Sad to hear of the passing of renowned author Bapsi Sidhwa at 86. Her powerful storytelling and unique voice will continue to inspire generations.”

Sidhwa’s illustrious literary career spanned decades, during which she authored iconic novels like Ice Candy Man (1991), which inspired Deepa Mehta’s critically acclaimed Indian film Earth (1998), and Water: A Novel (2006), the foundation for Mehta’s Academy Award-nominated film Water (2005).

Her ability to weave history, culture, and human emotion into compelling narratives made her a beacon of storytelling. In addition to her literary contributions, Sidhwa’s legacy includes the Bapsi Sidhwa Literary Prize, established to honour her achievements as the first internationally recognised Zoroastrian writer.

As tributes continue to pour in, Sidhwa’s works will continue to inspire generations to come; her voice echoing eternally through the pages of her books.