Within days of being awarded the Mubarak Prize for literature, Dr Abdul Qader Al-Qot died.

He was 86. But his work, the product of a versatile and open mind, has left an indelible mark on Egyptian culture. His advanced years in no way hindered him from taking an active part in various cultural activities.

Al-Qot was the last of the old school of critics, characterised by their reasoned debating style, thorough study, and ground-breaking ideas.

As a university professor, he was keen to pass on his knowledge and ideas to his avid students.

His legacy includes the only anthology of his poetry, Memories of Youth, which bears the stamp of neo-romanticism. Poetry was one of his special interests.

Among his works on Arabic literature in general are The Arab Poetic Concept, Emotional Tendencies in Modern Arabic Poetry, Word and Image, The Art of Drama, and The Art of Translation. As an academic, he produced several research papers and examined MA and PhD theses.

Dr Gaber Asfour, Secretary-General of the Supreme Cultural Council (SCC) said that Egyptian culture lost one who personified the Enlightenment.

"Al-Qot was educated in the ways of debate and respect for the opinions of others.

adding that Al-Qot allowed himself to go with the flow of innovative trends in Egyptian literature, and was flexible and open-minded enough to encourage new modes of expression, provided that they conformed to taste.

Dr Salah Fadl, chairman of Darul Kotob, wrote an article about professor Al-Qot, entitled The Presence of a Luminary because Al-Qot impressed those who knew him with his profound, yet calm spirit of a true scholar.

He was not so much a mentor, more a father-figure in the way he gave advice and guidance, Dr Fadl said.

Even in his eighties, Al-Qot's intellectual powers were sharp, and he wastolerant and understood the true meaning of freedom of expression.

"Al-Qot was constantly in the pursuit of knowledge, he refused to stand still," Dr Fadl said.

Dr Mohamed Abdul Moteleb, head of the Arabic Language Department at Ain Shams University, said that Al-Qot represented an age of chivalry, following in the footsteps of pioneerthinkers and writers such as Mohamed Abduh, Qassem Amin and Taha Hussein.

He was not just an academic. He took an active part in cultural activities. At different times, he was chief editor of several esteemed magazines - The Magazine, Poetry, Creativity and Theatre.

He was chairman of the SCC Poetry Committee and was a regular contributor to Al Ahram daily newspaper.

Above all, he took it upon himself to encourage new trends in literature and criticism and wrote critical analyses of the works of young authors.