Ashfaq Ahmed (Urdu: اشفاق احمد; 22 August 1925 – 7 September 2004) was a writer, playwright and broadcaster from Pakistan.[3] He authored several books in Urdu. His works included novels, short stories and plays for television and radio.[4] He was awarded President's Pride of Performance and Sitara-i-Imtiaz for meritorious services in the field of literature and broadcasting.[5]
Early life[edit]
Ahmed was born on 22 August 1925 in Firozpur, Punjab, British India,[6][7] into an ethnic Pashtun family of the Momand tribe.[8] He obtained his early education in his native district of Muktsar.[6][7][9] Shortly before independence in 1947, he migrated to Pakistan and settled in Lahore, Punjab.[10] He completed his Masters in Urdu literature from Government College Lahore. Bano Qudsia, his wife and companion in Urdu literary circles, was his classmate at the Government College.[11]
Education[edit]
After Partition, when Ahmed arrived at the Walton refugee camp with millions of other migrants, he used to make announcements of directions on a megaphone around the clock for the refugees. Later, he got a job in 'Radio Azad Kashmir', which was established on a truck that used to drive around in various parts of Kashmir. He then got lectureship at Dayal Singh College, Lahore for two years. Whereafter, he went to Rome to join 'Radio Rome' as an Urdu newscaster. He also used to teach Urdu at 'Rome University'. During his stay in Europe, he received diplomas in the Italian and French languages from the 'Sapienza University of Rome|University of Rome' and University of Grenoble, France. He also earned a special training diploma in radio broadcasting from New York University.[10]
Career[edit]
He started writing stories in his childhood, which were published in Phool [Flower] magazine. After returning to Pakistan from Europe, he took out his own monthly literary magazine, Dastaango [Story Teller], and joined Radio Pakistan as a script writer. He was made editor of the popular Urdu weekly, Lail-o-Nahar [Day and Night], in place of famous poet Sufi Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum by the Government of Pakistan.[3]
In 1962, Ahmed started his popular radio program, Talqeen Shah [The Preacher] which made him immensely popular among the people in towns and villages.[12] He was appointed director of the Markazi Urdu Board in 1966, which was later renamed as Urdu Science Board, a post he held for 29 years.[10] He remained with the board until 1979. He also served as adviser in the Education Ministry during Zia-ul-Haq's regime.[2] In the 1960s, he produced a feature film, Dhoop aur Saaei [Shadows and Sunshine], which was not very successful at the box office.
Bano Qudsia (Urdu: بانو قدسیہ; 28 November 1928 – 4 February 2017), also lovingly referred as Bano Aapa,[1] was a Pakistani novelist, playwright and spiritualist. She wrote Urdu novels, dramas and short stories. Qudsia is best known for her novel Raja Gidh.[2] Qudsia also wrote for television and stage in both Urdu and Punjabi languages. Her play Aadhi Baat has been called "a classic".[3] Bano Qudsia died in Lahore on 4 February 2017.[4]
Personal life[edit]
Bano Qudsia was born on 28 November 1928 in Firozpur, British India, as Qudsia Chattha.[5] Her father was a Bachelor of Agriculture and her brother Pervaiz Chattah was a painter. She migrated to Lahore with her family after the partition of India and had begun writing short stories while studying in class 5.[6] She graduated from the Kinnaird College in Lahore and then joined the Government College University (Lahore) (GCU) to do her masters in Urdu literature which she completed in 1951.[7]
Qudsia married writer Ashfaq Ahmed whom she had met at the Government College University (Lahore).[6] They had three sons Aneeque, Anees and Aseer.[8] The couple had been considered inseparable in their social lives.[9]
Literary work[edit]
Qudsia's novel Raja Gidh (The King Buzzard) is considered a modern Urdu classic.[1] Among her more prominent writings are Aatish-i-zer-i-paa, Aik Din, Amer Bail, Asay Pasay, Chahar Chaman, Chhotaa Sheher Baray Log, Footpath ki Ghaas, Haasil Ghaat and Hawa Kay Naam.[6] The most well known plays she wrote include Tamasil, Hawa ke Naam, Seharay and Khaleej.[7]
Her critically acclaimed play Aadhi Baat was about a retired headmaster. The play examined the headmaster's day-to-day life problems and had Qavi Khan acting as the lead character. The play's director was Agha Nasir and it was produced by Tauqeer Nasir.
Early life[edit]
Ahmed was born on 22 August 1925 in Firozpur, Punjab, British India,[6][7] into an ethnic Pashtun family of the Momand tribe.[8] He obtained his early education in his native district of Muktsar.[6][7][9] Shortly before independence in 1947, he migrated to Pakistan and settled in Lahore, Punjab.[10] He completed his Masters in Urdu literature from Government College Lahore. Bano Qudsia, his wife and companion in Urdu literary circles, was his classmate at the Government College.[11]
Education[edit]
After Partition, when Ahmed arrived at the Walton refugee camp with millions of other migrants, he used to make announcements of directions on a megaphone around the clock for the refugees. Later, he got a job in 'Radio Azad Kashmir', which was established on a truck that used to drive around in various parts of Kashmir. He then got lectureship at Dayal Singh College, Lahore for two years. Whereafter, he went to Rome to join 'Radio Rome' as an Urdu newscaster. He also used to teach Urdu at 'Rome University'. During his stay in Europe, he received diplomas in the Italian and French languages from the 'Sapienza University of Rome|University of Rome' and University of Grenoble, France. He also earned a special training diploma in radio broadcasting from New York University.[10]
Career[edit]
He started writing stories in his childhood, which were published in Phool [Flower] magazine. After returning to Pakistan from Europe, he took out his own monthly literary magazine, Dastaango [Story Teller], and joined Radio Pakistan as a script writer. He was made editor of the popular Urdu weekly, Lail-o-Nahar [Day and Night], in place of famous poet Sufi Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum by the Government of Pakistan.[3]
In 1962, Ahmed started his popular radio program, Talqeen Shah [The Preacher] which made him immensely popular among the people in towns and villages.[12] He was appointed director of the Markazi Urdu Board in 1966, which was later renamed as Urdu Science Board, a post he held for 29 years.[10] He remained with the board until 1979. He also served as adviser in the Education Ministry during Zia-ul-Haq's regime.[2] In the 1960s, he produced a feature film, Dhoop aur Saaei [Shadows and Sunshine], which was not very successful at the box office.
Bano Qudsia (Urdu: بانو قدسیہ; 28 November 1928 – 4 February 2017), also lovingly referred as Bano Aapa,[1] was a Pakistani novelist, playwright and spiritualist. She wrote Urdu novels, dramas and short stories. Qudsia is best known for her novel Raja Gidh.[2] Qudsia also wrote for television and stage in both Urdu and Punjabi languages. Her play Aadhi Baat has been called "a classic".[3] Bano Qudsia died in Lahore on 4 February 2017.[4]
Personal life[edit]
Bano Qudsia was born on 28 November 1928 in Firozpur, British India, as Qudsia Chattha.[5] Her father was a Bachelor of Agriculture and her brother Pervaiz Chattah was a painter. She migrated to Lahore with her family after the partition of India and had begun writing short stories while studying in class 5.[6] She graduated from the Kinnaird College in Lahore and then joined the Government College University (Lahore) (GCU) to do her masters in Urdu literature which she completed in 1951.[7]
Qudsia married writer Ashfaq Ahmed whom she had met at the Government College University (Lahore).[6] They had three sons Aneeque, Anees and Aseer.[8] The couple had been considered inseparable in their social lives.[9]
Literary work[edit]
Qudsia's novel Raja Gidh (The King Buzzard) is considered a modern Urdu classic.[1] Among her more prominent writings are Aatish-i-zer-i-paa, Aik Din, Amer Bail, Asay Pasay, Chahar Chaman, Chhotaa Sheher Baray Log, Footpath ki Ghaas, Haasil Ghaat and Hawa Kay Naam.[6] The most well known plays she wrote include Tamasil, Hawa ke Naam, Seharay and Khaleej.[7]
Her critically acclaimed play Aadhi Baat was about a retired headmaster. The play examined the headmaster's day-to-day life problems and had Qavi Khan acting as the lead character. The play's director was Agha Nasir and it was produced by Tauqeer Nasir.
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