KARACHI: A glowing tribute was presented to Zia Mohyeddin by his colleagues, friends, and students at the National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa) on Tuesday to mark the first death anniversary of the legendary actor, director, and founder of Napa.

According to a press release, the programme began with a panel discussion, which included Zia Mohyeddin’s widow Azra, who is an actor, and his old friend Munawwar Saeed, Napa Chairperson Syed Jawaid Iqbal, Napa’s Advisor on Theatre Khalid Ahmed, former senator Javed Jabbar and poet Ashfaq Hussain.

Napa CEO Junaid Zuberi moderated the discussion. He said it was difficult to speak on the personality of Zia Mohyeddin whereas Azra Mohyeddin narrated her first meeting with Zia Mohyeddin, where she had corrected Zia sahib’s Urdu which, perhaps, made him believe that she was a person of strength.

Munawwar Saeed relived his first meeting with the legendary thespian when Zia sahib had directed Khwaja Moinuddin’s Lal Qilay Se Lalukhet. He said Zia sahib was man of great self-control.

Syed Jawaid Iqbal said the legacy of Zia Mohyeddin was that he took the classical literature out of drawing rooms to the masses through his parhant.

Khalid Ahmed recalled the day Zia Mohyeddin passed away and how, despite Napa being closed for three days in mourning, students assembled there to remember their great teacher every evening. He urged Zia sahib’s students to keep his legacy alive through their work.

Former senator Javed Jabbar said Zia Mohyeddin was an embodiment of stage. He made the works of poets come alive.

Poet Ashfaq Hussain remembered how Zia sahib loved playing bridge.

He said Zia sahib was a shy person who preferred to stay away from public view, except for his performances.

Later, a number of Zia Mohyeddin’s students and fans paid him tribute by reciting poetry of Noon Meem Rashid, Zehra Nigah, and Faiz Ahmed Faiz, and reading text from Fasana-i-Azad.

Two of Zia Mohyeddin’s students also enacted a scene from Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

The event was emceed by writer and director Samina Nazir, also a student of Zia Mohyeddin.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2024