Bano Qudsia

was a Pakistani playwright, intellectual, spiritualist, and writer who wrote about 27 novels, collections of stories, and several plays for TV and radio. She also refers to the name of Bano Aapa. Her primary reference in fiction is Raja Gidh because a new style of literature was born in Pakistan. The novel also contributed to her global fame. When a global encyclopedia was compiled in the United States covering local literature from all over the world, it contained only two names of Urdu literature, one of which was Bano Qudsia. In 1983, Qudsia was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) by the Government of Pakistan. In 2010, the Pakistani government awarded her the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence) for her services in literature. In 2012, the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) awarded Qudsia the Kamal-e-Fun Award, which is a lifetime achievement award. On 28 November 2020, Google celebrated her 92nd birthday with a Google Doodle.

Early life and family

She was born in a landlord family of Ferozepur British India on November 28, 1928. She used to write plays for her school events as a student but did not start writing regularly apart from these school plays. Her family migrated to Lahore after the partition of India. Bano got her graduate degree from Kinard College Lahore. Then she enrolled in the Government College University Lahore (GCU) where she completed her masters degree in Urdu literature in 1951.
Bano Qudsia married Ashfaq Ahmad, whom she met while studying in Government College University Lahore. Literary inclinations and mental harmony tied Ashfaq Ahmed, and Bano Qudsia in love marriage and the couple gave Urdu literature exemplary dramas, fiction, and novels. They had three sons named Aneeque, Anees, and Aseer.

Career

Qudsia credits Ahmed for transforming her after their marriage and eventually encouraged her to start writing regularly. She appeared in Urdu literature when Urdu fiction reached some milestones in its artistic evolution. Bano Qudsia wrote several novels, TV plays, and short stories. She wrote in Urdu and Punjabi language. Her real fame and literary position came from her novel Raja Gidh (The King Vulture). Raja Gidh is one of the prominent and best novels in Urdu literature. The Novel describes the love story of a girl Seemi who loves her class fellow Aftab while studying university. The eternal characters of Qayyum, Aftab, and Sami still inform the readers about the difference between halal and haraam, madness, and the implications of haraam. Among her more prominent writings are Aatish-i-zer-i-paa, Aik Din, Asay Pasay, Chahar Chaman, Chhotaa Sheher Baray Log, Footpath ki Ghaas, Haasil Ghaat and Hawa Kay Naam.

The most well known plays she wrote include Tamasil, Hawa ke Naam, Seharay and Khaleej. Qudsia has written several TV serials and long dramas, including Dhoop Jalli, Khana Badosh, Klu, and Piya Nam Ka Diya. Her drama Aadhi Baat got the status of a classic. Her critically acclaimed play Aadhi Baat was about a retired headmaster. The play examined the headmasters day-to-day life problems and had Qavi Khan acting as the lead character. The plays director was Agha Nasir and it was produced by Tauqeer Nasir. Aadhi Baat was performed in May 2010 in Islamabad at a three-day event which was organized by the Pakistan National Council of the Arts. Ashfaq Ahmad was writing his autobiography with the name Baba Saheba, but death didnt allow him to complete it. Bano completed it, and its 2nd part issued as Rah E Rawaan. The disparity in the writing style of this couple is crystal clear in these two publications; 1st part is entrancing, provoking, and lucid, the 2nd part has sad feelings. In 2011 Rah E Rawaan was published. It portrays Ashfaqs philosophical thoughts and its possible relation to different aspects of life. Her attempt to write her husbands biography took her to write on his ancestors, uncles, sisters, grandfather, and brothers to understand Ashfaq completely. Bano Qudsia also wrote a book about Qudrat Ullah Shahab titled “Mard-e-Abresham” مردِابریشم. The book mainly portrays Shahabs life and how it was connected with Ashfaq Ahmed and his family both on social and spiritual level.

Biographies

• Rah-e-Rawaan
• Mard-e-Abresham

Death

Bano Qudsia died on 4 February 2017 at the in Lahore at the age of 88. She was buried at Lahore on 5 February and prayer services were held at Model Town, Lahore. She left a great legacy in the shape of her writings.