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Bajia's admirers pay tribute: ‘We can say that we have lost our mother’

Bajia's admirers pay tribute: ‘We can say that we have lost our mother’

Playwright Fatima Surayya Bajia was laid to rest in the Gizri graveyard yesterday afternoon
12 Feb, 2016

KARACHI: Dis­tinguished playwright Fatima Surayya Bajia, who passed away on Feb 10, was laid to rest in the Gizri graveyard, DHA Phase IV, on Thursday afternoon.

Bajia’s funeral prayers were offered after Zuhar prayers at 38D, Miran Mohammad Shah Road, Mohammad Ali Society. Apart from her family members, hundreds of the playwright’s friends, admirers, colleagues and a big number of showbiz personalities, politicians and scholars attended the funeral.

Bajia’s younger brother, eminent writer Anwar Maqsood, stood at a corner of the house where Bajia spent her last few years, receiving the mourners. They, along with members of television and print media, started trickling into the street at least a couple of hours before the Namaz-i-janazah.

Despite Mr Maqsood’s request to the media that they needed not interview him because he was not in a position to answer their questions, they did not listen to him. And when preparations were under way for the Namaz, they rushed with their cameras near the coffin, creating a difficult situation.

Talking to Dawn about Bajia, scholar Dr Nomanul Haq said: “It seems as if a significant era has lost its link with our times. This troubles me. Bajia’s disposition, her nature had certain mellifluousness (halawat) to her, which was rare. Though the bulk of her work was for television, what was key in all those plays was her personality itself which had a great deal of sweetness (mithaas).”

Actor Qazi Wajid articulated: “People like Bajia don’t die. They live in their creative pursuits.”

Underlining the significance of Bajia’s presence in Pakistani society, poet Pirzada Qasim said: “There was no one like Bajia. Now that she’s no more, her absence would be felt badly. She wrote a lot of historic plays, but she herself was the central character of the drama and story of the culture of our times.”

TV producer Ali Rizvi reminisced about the times when Bajia worked for Karachi Television. He said: “Bajia was the only person in our community that everyone, be it a young man or a seasoned person, felt comfortable talking to. They used to seek her counsel treating her like their mother. We can say that we have lost our mother.”

When asked to give his opinion about her craft as a writer, Mr Rizvi said: “What can I say about that. Great directors and producers have (proudly) worked with her. Her Afshan and Aroosa were two of the most memorable drama serials produced by Pakistan Television. As far as I’m concerned, I only got to direct a couple of her dramas. She did most of her work with Qasim Jalali, Zaheer Khan and Haider Imam Rizvi.”

Architect Arif Hasan, expressing his opinion on the generation of writers and intellectuals that’s fast disappearing, some of whom died very recently, and because of which intellect was getting depleted, said: “What we see today is a different kind of intellect. The continuity that there was with history is no more. I think a lot has been written about it.”

Bajia’s soyem will be held today (Friday) at 38D, Mir Miran Mohammad Shah Road, Mohammad Ali Society, between Asr and Maghrib prayers.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2016

Comments

Hasan Feb 12, 2016 10:06am
The jewels of Pakistan are leaving....
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Ali Rizvi Feb 12, 2016 10:08am
"And when preparations were under way for the Namaz, they rushed with their cameras near the coffin, creating a difficult situation" Shameless Mediapersons! It was the Late Bajia's wish that cameras not be around!
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Jalaluddin S. Hussain Feb 12, 2016 10:53am
Although I live in far-off Brossard, Quebec and have not read and watched much of Bajia's creative productions, I still feel that her contribution to Urdu literature and Asian cultural heritage, particularly Urdu, was great. May her great soul rest in peace (RIP)!
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wasim kamran Feb 12, 2016 10:57am
irreparable loss
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Fandom Beyond the Borders Feb 12, 2016 12:12pm
What a personality she had. There is no denying the fact that intellectual of her stature are not seem these days in a society that is symbolized by violence and extremism today. Bajia was the soft image of our society and we can hardly find any gem of her class today.
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Jawaid Islam Feb 12, 2016 12:25pm
A loss to the drama scene; having grown up watching her magnificent serials SHAMA, AFSHAN, AROOSA, ANA and I believe the lost AGAHI, I can't imagine anyone else replacing her writings.
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sam Feb 12, 2016 12:28pm
May Allah ease her journey in the next life and bless her soul. An amazing down to earth woman who blessed me once personally by putting her hand on my head andy saying " Bachaa Khush raho". Amazing playwright and a complete organizational performer in her field. Really sad at her demise.
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TZaman Feb 12, 2016 01:43pm
An era has come to end. But Bajia will be cherished through her dramas forever. I wish PTV or any other channel shows her dramas again. What beautiful shows they were.
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Muhammad Tahir Jamali Feb 12, 2016 02:01pm
I never missed her written plays. May Almighty Allah bless her in heavens.
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Kamranmansur Feb 12, 2016 03:38pm
R.I.P
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Aamer Feb 12, 2016 04:03pm
So sad, Fatima Suraya Bajia was a legendry writer. She will always be remembered by her work and her contribution towards Urdu literature.
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MBH Feb 12, 2016 04:50pm
First Jameeluddin Aali, then Intizar Hussain and now Bajia....May Allah rest all of them in peace...And may more creative writers like them take their place....
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Yousuf Feb 12, 2016 05:29pm
Mother of all writers.....her contribution to the nation and his family not forgettable......media should respect privacy and get educate how to react on different situation not go for rating. Yousuf Milton -Canadat
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Bhushan Parimoo Feb 12, 2016 07:18pm
yes a great soul loss is of elder sister
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Ihtesham Kayani Feb 12, 2016 08:47pm
Iconic figure, no more.
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Ahsan Gul Feb 13, 2016 12:33am
May almighty Allaha bless her soul. Indeed a great loss but we all will recover. One must not forget that "each living must taste death". Having said that , we all should strive to be good human beings.
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Mubashir Mahmood Feb 13, 2016 01:19am
May her soul rest in peace
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Syed Ali Feb 13, 2016 01:21am
We should set up a museum to house belongings of our cultural icons. May Allah rest her soul in peace and harmony.
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An Admirer Feb 13, 2016 02:57am
RIP Indeed a legendary figure, I will never forget her name because I have watched her plays while watching PTV, when I was growing up in 90's. Her name is really thirst upon my imagination. Now the more I look into the gathering of her admirers relatives the more I am breaking in tears. Anwer Maqsood and all her family members may Allah give you forbearance.
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Musharraf Feb 13, 2016 05:57pm
We lost one unique writers from the path of slogan guiders, a best solution writer, problem screening planner and best heart touching stories writer. Allah blessed her in peace. ameen. Anwar Bhai accept my deep condolence from Dammam Saudi Arabia, Musharraf
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