Masood Barkati, editor of children's mag Naunehal, passes away

Masood Ahmed Barkati, who edited children’s magazine Hamdard Naunehal for around 65 years, passed away after a protracted illness on Sunday. He was 87.

His friends and family members said Masood Ahmed Barkati, a prolific writer of children’s literature who wrote 20 books, was ill and died on Sunday evening.

He had been editing the magazine for the past 65 years without missing a single issue.

Most critics said such a long period for someone to edit a publication might be a record in itself in the world.

Mr Barkati was a close aide to Hakim Mohammad Said, who owned the magazine. He belonged to a family hailing from Tonk, Rajasthan, India, that produced a number of famous intellectuals.

He was a younger brother of Hakim Mehmood Ahmed Barkati, a researcher and scholar.

He is survived by three daughters and a son.

His funeral prayers will be held at Masjid Falah, Naseerabad, Federal B Area, after Zuhar prayers.

People recalled Barkati sahib's work as a gift of their childhood:

Originally published in Dawn, December 11th, 2017