Daily News Analysis ‘Person in News’ : 29 May

Bashir Badr 

Why in News:

• Renowned literary figure and celebrated scholar Dr. Bashir Badr passed away in Bhopal following a prolonged illness at the age of 91.

Key Facts: Profile and Contributions of Dr. Bashir Badr

• Academic Background: He earned his Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Urdu literature from Aligarh Muslim University, subsequently serving as a regular academic lecturer and Head of the Urdu Department at Meerut College for nearly 17 years.
• Major Publications: Over his decades-long career, he authored more than seven specialized poetry collections, including Aas, Ikai, Aahat, Aamad, and Image, alongside publishing two definitive books of literary criticism: Azadi Ke Bad Urdu Ghazals Ka Tanqidi Mutala and Biswin Sadi Mein Ghazal.
• National Recognition: He was conferred with the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu in 1999 for his masterpiece collection Aas (comprising 69 distinct ghazals), and was honored with the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his outstanding lifetime contributions to literature

Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi

Why in News: 

• Yemen’s former internationally recognized President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi passed away in exile in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh following a sudden health crisis.

Key Facts: Geopolitical Profile and Transitional Timeline of Hadi

• Political Ascent: Hadi assumed office as the President of Yemen in 2012 following a one-candidate transition election backed by the United States and Gulf nations, succeeding long-time authoritarian ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh who stepped down during Arab Spring uprisings.
• Vice-Presidential Tenure: Prior to his presidency, he served as the country’s Vice President for nearly eighteen years (from 1994 to 2012) under Saleh’s administration, following his role as Defence Minister during the suppression of the 1994 southern secession attempt.
• The Houthi Rebellion Outbreak: His tenure witnessed extreme domestic instability when the Iran-aligned Houthi rebel movement swept south from their northern strongholds to overrun and capture the capital city of Sanaa in 2014.