Acclaimed Urdu novelist Bano Qudsia passes away

E-Paper | May 03, 2026

Renowned novelist and playwright Bano Qudsia, 88, passed away in Lahore on Saturday, DawnNews reported.

Bano was born on Nov 28, 1928, in the Ferozepur district of pre-partition India.

Most famous for her novel Raja Gidh, Qudsia also authored several other novels, short stories and screenplays in Urdu and Punjabi.

She held a master's degree in Urdu literature from Government College, Lahore.

She was the spouse of another legend in Urdu literature, novelist and playwright Ashfaq Ahmed.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

Lahore CTD arrests YouTuber Saad bin Riaz for allegedly ‘recruiting individuals for al-Qaeda’

Concept-based learning to replace rote memorisation in Punjab schools

Temporary mechanical rides banned in Punjab's public parks on Eidul Azha

layman

Feb 04, 2017 07:05pm

Rest in peace. A great writer will certainly be long remembered.

Recommend 0

Haider

Feb 04, 2017 07:14pm

Great writer and a great woman.

Recommend 0

asif

Feb 04, 2017 07:11pm

Very sad day for me.

Recommend 0

Rahi

Feb 04, 2017 07:23pm

Rest in peace... I discovered myself through her writing.. she has most influence one me after my mother. I remember I tried to meet her and walked through streets of model town and asked everyone about her and dastan-e-saray .. as I dont have the her address unfortunately she was not home.

Recommend 0

Rashid

Feb 04, 2017 07:31pm

I have a vivid memory of her dramas showed on PTV back in the olden days. She certainly will be remembered as one of the finest writer of Urdu drama of PTV.

Recommend 0

Jawwad

Feb 04, 2017 07:35pm

So long Ms. Qudsia. She wrote some marvellous plays that will live among us forever.

Recommend 0

Feb 04, 2017 07:43pm

Very sad news. My deepest condolence to the family. May God give you the strength to overcome this difficult time.

Recommend 0

Anonymous

Feb 04, 2017 07:43pm

Besides her literary classics, she had that aura which made you feel so comforted to see her even on TV - something you find in kind and generous elders. Rest in peace!

Recommend 0

Picasso

Feb 04, 2017 08:19pm

Great legend she was indeed! May her soul rest in peace..

Recommend 0

Sheikh Junaid

Feb 04, 2017 08:30pm

May her soul rest in peace. today we have lost one of great writers. she has wonderful creativity of writing short stories and noval which we never find some one else work.

Recommend 0

Saif zulfiqar

Feb 04, 2017 08:41pm

Have read quite a few of her novels during college days. May God rest he soul in peace.

Recommend 0

Khalifa

Feb 04, 2017 09:07pm

Arguably one of the finest novelists and playwrights in Urdu language. Her master piece, Raja Gidh, leaves its readers spell bound. I wish our young generation could take some time out and reads through some of these classic works. It shall open up their imagination tremendously.

Recommend 0

tomywahala

Feb 04, 2017 09:09pm

@Anonymous it makes no difference. since you're writing "she' thats how im taking it.

Recommend 0

Zain

Feb 04, 2017 09:27pm

Rest in peace. She was a legend in the literature. Her work is just extraordinary.

Recommend 0

Umair Javed

Feb 04, 2017 09:52pm

Great Pakistani woman, and great contributor towards promotion of Urdu Literature.

Recommend 0

Mustafa R.

Feb 04, 2017 10:06pm

Ada Jaffrey (Jan. 2015), Fatima Surraya Bajia (Feb. 2016) and now Bano Qudsia. In a span of two years the 'women's compartment' of Urdu literature has shrunk by 90%.

Recommend 0

Masood

Feb 04, 2017 10:20pm

She was an amazing human being and a brilliant Novelist and Play writer! I grew up watching her plays and have vivid memories of the golden era Heart felt condolence to the family!

Recommend 0

Shumaila Andleeb

Feb 04, 2017 11:31pm

I have always held Bano Aapa in very high esteem. Have read her novel Raja Gidh several times and was always impressed by her approach of writing. Her writing is not mere words. Each word has a soul of its own... I will always miss her. Bano Aapa, may you be blessed with highest place in heavens.

Recommend 0

@rana

Feb 05, 2017 12:11am

well a very small article about such a renowned and illustrious personality. Dawn

Recommend 0

shaz

Feb 05, 2017 01:12am

Great women . She contributed a lot in Urdu literature through her writing . God may bless her soul Amen.

Recommend 0

surrinder gill ADVOCATE

Feb 05, 2017 02:25am

Very sad. She was a great voice of oppressed women in south Asia. Great Punjaban. Rest in peace.

Recommend 0

Goga Nalaik

Feb 05, 2017 02:33am

RIP Great Lady

Recommend 0

Zaheer

Feb 05, 2017 03:38am

As we are observing the first death anniversary of renowned intellactual Intizar Hussain the news of the said demise of another great Bano Qudsia shocked the nation.

Recommend 0

Syed ZafaR Kazmi U.S.A

Feb 05, 2017 05:24am

Very talented author & artist of the class & league of the immortal Qurratul Aiyn Haider. Very original & genuine

Recommend 0

Wajih Uddin Qidwai

Feb 05, 2017 05:40am

Ashfaq Ahmed Sahab we tried our best to keep her here in this world, but she loved you more. Best of the Best. RIP Bano Sahiba

Recommend 0

MAARIF SOHAIL

Feb 05, 2017 05:47am

RIP in peace Bano Apa. Would always miss your visits with Ashfaque Sahab to our home. Your presence made Ashfaque Sahab complete here and now you would complete him there.

Recommend 0

Gaffor Khan

Feb 05, 2017 06:48am

Sad news. RIP.

Recommend 0

pakman

Feb 05, 2017 07:11am

RIP another literary legend passes away.

Recommend 0

Hamid Shafiq

Feb 05, 2017 08:25am

Once I read her husband death news and now she is also died.RIP

Recommend 0

KABEER

Feb 05, 2017 08:39am

RIP GREAT LADY

Recommend 0

Ahmad

Feb 05, 2017 10:31pm

Oh such a great loss. Rest in peace. Your words will guide countless generations but your place will remain vacant in the hearts of people.

Recommend 0

farooq shaikh

Feb 06, 2017 05:27am

A brilliant chapter of literature spread over almost for a century comes to an end. We will be able to forget her.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa expands climate action with one Million Tree Drive and forest reforms

The province is turning policy into action through a series of large scale programmes aimed at rebuilding ecosystems and improving resilience against rising climate pressures.

Taptap Send, Arshad Nadeem partner to highlight Pakistan’s unsung champions

The initiative comes at a time when cricket continues to dominate national attention, often overshadowing achievements in other sports.

NexGen Auto (Nishat Group) to Introduce iCAUR in Pakistan

As one of Pakistan’s leading business groups, Nishat Group operates across key sectors including textiles, cement, banking, insurance, power and agriculture.