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Renowned Urdu playwright Fatima Surayya Bajia passes away at 85
KARACHI: Renowned Urdu novelist and playwright Fatima Surayya Bajia passed away on Wednesday in Karachi after prolonged illness, DawnNews reported.
Talking to media after his sister's death, Anwar Maqsood said "Bajia was a motherly figure for all her siblings".
“She not only left her family members but hundred of thousands of her fans to mourn the loss,” said a distraught looking Maqsood, adding that he was with Bajia at the time of her passing.
According to Bajia's family, her funeral prayers and burial will take place after Zuhr prayers on Thursday.
Bajia wrote several popular serials for PTV, including Shama (based on A.R. Khatoon' novel), Afshan, Aroosa, Aagahi, Ana and Zeenat. Besides, she had done historical plays, children's programmes, women's programmes and literary programmes such as Auraq.
In recognition of her services, besides the local awards, she has been given the highest civil award of Japan. Bajia also served as president of the Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association.
Born into an educated in family of Hyderabad Deccan in 1930, Fatima Surayya was the eldest of the 9 siblings. The family sailed to Karachi on September 18, 1948, immediately after the fall of the Hyderabad state, which was invaded by the Indian army on September 11, the day the Quaid-i-Azam died here.
She did not have a formal degree but had acquired extensive knowledge of Arabic, Persian, English and Urdu literature and history at home through private tuitions.
In Karachi, when her grandfather and father died, she took up the responsibility of looking after her younger siblings, who all received a good education and some successfully carved out their own identity in separate fields of art and culture.
Her brother Anwar Maqsood became a multi-talented artist writing plays for TV and theatre, her sister Zehra Nigah became a renowned poetess while Zubaida Tariq turned into a cooking expert.
Whether Bajia wrote a play, serial or any other TV-adaptable piece, she elaborately depicted the culture of the area and the period she set the story in.
In Auraq, the literary programme that ran for about two years on PTV, she vividly depicted the culture of the area -- whether Sindh, Pubjab, Balochistan, Frontier or Kashmir -- in the stories she included in the programme.
Also Read: literary notes : May they live longer — oldest living authors of Urdu
Comments (55) Closed
3rd in a row. Intizar Hussain, Nida Fazli, and now Bajiya.
May she rests in peace.
May God rest her soul in peace.
she will live forever in our memories as long as we will live... this is indeed one loss which no other writer will be able to fit in. a mentor whom people loved more than what she could do for us.... such was her stature.
Rest in peace bajya.
inna lillahi wa inallah-e-raji'oon إِنَّا للهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ
We will miss you bajya
'Inna Lillah e wainnaleh e Rajeoun'. Bajiya we can never forget you. You will be in our memories forever. My sincere condolences to Anwar Maqsood and other relatives.
i had just commented a couple of days ago in dawn on intizar saab death
saying what is it all Urdu writer are suddenly dying and hoping the new generation are up to the task of taking their place so Urdu writing is alive
in india to a couple of Urdu writer have died recently
may all their soul rest in peace
What a gem of writer and person Bajia was.
Another good one departs. May she rest in peace. Her work will be remembered forever.
Loss of a great person. May her great soul rest in eternal peace.
Rip
So sad,may her soul rest in peace.
Our condolences to the family of Bajiya. She leaves a legacy of great literary work. We will always remember her for her memorable TV plays on PTV. Rest in peace Bajiya!
إِنَّا للهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ
No replacement, a true National Treasure, a Pakistan's Pride.
your memory will be treasure for me.
RIP.. She was famous for her drama writing and a myth that her heroin of the dramas get married soon after the release of drama.
What respectable figure, everyone feels happy to call her "Bajiya".
Great Loss for the nation... These kind of persons born in ages.. never the less she was the kind hearted, loving, caring and great human bean.
Inna lillah wa inna ilaihi rajioun
Huge loss
Will always remember you and also miss you. Rest in Peace dear Surayya Bajia.
Great writer. May her soul rest in peace.....
RIP in Heavens Bajiya, sun also dawns but never the good deeds and memories.
Deepest condolences to her family. Truly a Legend ! Glory days of Pakistani TV will never be lived again.
a true representative of pakistani culture.she is a role model for the coming generations.a mother like like for everyone who even had not the opportunity of meeting with this truly inspirational human being.
A true Lengend, who will always be remembered, Condolences to the family.
May your soul rest in peace! You were a great asset lost for us!
RIP
May her soul rest in peace - Amen She was an asset to Pakistan where for decades people enjoyed her TV series
Sad to hear that Surayya Bajia passed away. PTV drama serial that she wrote influenced the whole Pakistani society. She was a great writer and intellectual. May her soul rest in peace.
A lady who represented the ethos of Pakistan.
We lost Ada Jaffery about this time last year and now Bajiya. The two greatest women Urdu literature has produced.
She gave some masterpieces in our teenage. RIP. Will remember you forever.
إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون She was a national asset. May her soul rests in peace in heavens.
Rip........
Great person. Greater is our loss.
She was a gem
Rip sincere condolences to the family and dear one's.
Difficult to explain the loss in words, government should recognize her services to Pakistan, her brother Anwar Maqsood and the whole family consists of genius people and they should be recognized.
My Dear, Rest in Peace.
Inna lillah e wa inna ilehe rajiun. May her soul rest in peace.
May God rest her soul for eternal peace.
yes she was motherly figure and a great lady...
I knew Bajia for over fifty years, and always received warmth and kindness from her. Apart from her great contribution to drama, she was a wonderful human being, always full of fun and laughter. May she rest in peace.
May God rest her soul in peace.
RIP, the void can't be filled
إِنَّا للهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ
A symbol of eastern culture, norms and values left us. Bajia introduced our cultural values through her dramas so beautifully that all other cultures came to know the rich eastern culture. She will be remembered forever.
Inna lil lahe wa inna ilele rajiun.
Great writer of all times. Pakistan has not only lost a writer but a role model with a charismatic personality for many.
She has a kind of persona that influence people to become leaders in their disciplines. may her soul rest in peace.
These are the great ones who made the pillars of Pakistan strong from its independence. It was their strength and confidence that gave direction and to the nation, which we all carry forward and will keep doing forever.
RIP
She was a great intellectual and one of the best presents Hyderabad Deccan gave to Pakistan. Her passing away is a big loss.