LAHORE: The Progressive Writers Association, Pakistan, on Monday held a seminar at Pak Tea House, The Mall, in connection with the centenary of Bhisham Sahni, a writer, playwright, actor, director and former general secretary of PWA, India.

The function was presided over by playwright and educationist, Asghar Nadeem Syed.

Throwing light on Sahni’s life and works, Mr Syed said: “By remembering Sahni we, in fact, discover those giants of Progressive Writers Association who were the common asset of both India and Pakistan.”

He said Sahni in his novel ‘Tamas’ told people that those who committed brutalities had no religion. He said Sahni highlighted the basic concept and thought of PWA through film, TV and theatre. Syed said since Sahni studied at Government College, Lahore, PWA in a way was also remembering a Ravian.

Speaking on the occasion, PWA Punjab Secretary Javed Aftab shed light on Sahni’s life and his popular novel ‘Tamas.’

Mr Aftab said Sahni started off his literary journey right after Partition. He said Sahni’s first collection of stories was published in 1953. Sahni also wrote biography of his brother and famous Indian cinema actor, Balraj Sahni.

Mentioning ‘Tamas’, Aftab said the novel was written on the Partition scene and it opposed the fundamentalist elements on both sides of the border.

The PWA condemned the Quetta attack and abduction of children through two resolutions.

PWA executive body member Zahid Hassan said besides ‘Tamas’ Sahni also wrote other things in the background of Partition, his childhood and the area of Bhera where he used to live. He said the basic objective of making a film and a TV serial on ‘Tamas’ was to assess the fact that why Partition took place. He said Balraj Sahni also published a travelogue in Hindi on his journey to Pakistan.

Journalist Tufail Akhtar spoke of life and works of two brothers Bhisham Sahni and Balraj Sahni.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2016