Lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar pays tributes to renowned Urdu writer and Jnanpith winner Qurratulain Haider, who passed away on Tuesday.

Akhtar said Haider's demise was a great loss for literature. "When I say that it is a great loss, it's not only to Urdu literature, not only to Indian literature, but to the word literature. I am not exaggerating at all."

He said in the years to come, Haider's novels will reach everywhere.

"The kind of work she has done... its only because she was born in a third world country and wrote in a language that is not of the imperialistic powers, her novels have not reached everywhere. I am sure the time will come when they will reach," Akhtar said.