LAHORE: Once active and energetic, Punjabi poet Nasreen Anjum Bhatti has now become frail and weak to such an extent that it has become difficult to even recognise her.

Well known for composing poetry of resistance, especially during Zia’s dictatorial rule, Bhatti is suffering from ovarian cancer. Diagnosed a few months ago with the cancer, which is spreading rapidly, Bhatti has now gone for chemotherapy which will help shrink the tumour. She is being looked after by her sister, Parveen.

“At first we tried to go for a surgery but the doctor strictly advised against it because of her frail health,” Parveen says, her voice tinged with worry.

“The good part is that we have been doing chemotherapy for the past two weeks and she has begun to feel much better since then. Her regular energy seems to be returning.”

The bad part is the whole process is extremely expensive and no one from the Punjab government has bothered to come forward and help us.

Parveen says only a handful of people have come to visit her sister and offered any help, including writer Ataul Haq Qasmi, Madeeha Gauhar and Parveen Malik from the Punjabi Literary Board to name a few.

“No one from the government has even visited her,” she says.

Sughra Sadaf, director of Punjabi Institute of Language, Art and Culture, says she is ‘trying to’ help out Bhatti but till now no solid steps have been taken.

“I would like to know how I can help,” she says. “Usually Radio Pakistan helps when one of their employees or former employees suffer from ill health,” Sadaf says.

Parliamentry Secretary for Information and Culture Rana Arshad says the process requires the family to write an application to the Radio Pakistan and the matter would be looked into after that but he does not give details of the time-frame.

“If anyone such as the head of a department or ministry refers the matter to me I will look into it but so far I have not received any application regarding Nasreen Anjum Bhatti’s health,” he says.

Madeeha Gauhar says it is a shame that those belonging to the community of arts and culture are neglected when they should be treated like national treasures.

“It is sad and unfortunate that those who know of her condition have not bothered to even come and meet her once, let along offer any help,” she deplores.

Nasreen Anjum Bhatti’s first collection of poetry called Neel Karaeeyan Neelkan in 1979 made a lasting impression on modern Punjabi poetry. Her works have been described as a “bridge between folklore classic and modern Punjabi poetry”. She was awarded the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz in 2011.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2015

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