Abid Raza Bedar

Abid Raza Bedar (4 February 1936 - 28 March 2025) was an Indian writer, librarian and scholar. He served as the Founding Director of Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library, Patna from 1972 to 1996.

Early life and education Abid Raza Bedar was born as Abid Raza Khan on 4 February 1936 in Rampur district, in Uttar Pradesh, into a rich family of Hamid Raza Khan, and Ahmadi Begum as their eldest son.

He graduated from Aligarh Muslim University and had knowledge of Arabic, Urdu and Persian languages.

Career Abid Raza Khan adopted Bedar as his takhallus and became known as Abid Raza Bedar. He started serving Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library, Patna as Director in 1972 and became popular as the one who gave Urdu research a new dimension. He had been in controversies due to the collection of books and manuscripts. He had earlier worked in Raza Library, Rampur and Indian Institute of International Studies, New Delhi.

Scholarly works

Kashmeer Darpan: Ek Tarruf, 2021 Abdul Hamid tabib nahi hakeem, 2011 Jamal al-din al-Afghani: a bibliography study, 1961 Adeeb, 1988 Aligarh Ki Muslim University Ka Masala, 1970 Ghalibiyat-e-Nau, 1970 Arabi Islami Madaris Ka Nisab-o-Nizam-e-Taleem Aur Asari Taqaze, 1969 Ghalib Ki Azmat, 1969 Abid Raza Bedar Intikhab-e-Kalam, 1969 Azeem Aur La Zawal, 1968 Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, 1968 Nasr Ka Husn, 1968 Raza Library, 1966 Qaim Chandpuri, 1963 Adab Ki Raftar, 1959

Controversies Amarat-e-Shariat, Idarah Shariah and Imarat Ahadis, all Islamic fatwa issuing body working in Bihar had issued a Fatwa of Apostasy against Bedar due to his book Seema Ki Talash and his ideas for not calling Hindus as Kafir and opposition of Cow-slaughter.

Personal life Bedar married Moazziz begum in 1963 they have two children together including Shaista Bedar.

Death Bedar died on 28 March 2025 in Aligarh at the age of 92.