KARACHI: A slightly delayed celebration of International Women’s Day at the National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa) on Tuesday saw a panel discussion with the academy’s women alumni.

In a society where women are not encouraged to opt for the performing arts, it was an interesting discussion, moderated by Sara Danial, about following one’s heart and breaking societal norms and stereotypes. Each panellist also read out poetry or a selection of prose relevant for the occasion.

Actor Zarqa Naz, who also teaches scriptwriting and storytelling at Napa, said that initially her family was against her joining Napa. “I was not even given a commuting allowance by them to stop me from coming here,” she said.

“My family called performing arts the work of bhaands and mirasi. But then seeing my resolve and hard work they did gradually notice that I possessed talent. They started accepting me as an artist,” she added.

Women alumni pay tribute to Zia Mohyeddin and other teachers

Paying rich tributes to her teachers, in particular the late Zia Mohyeddin, she said that in her second year at Napa, she got involved in dastangoi or oral storytelling. She also read out a portion from Ismat Chughtai’s Hum Log.

Another alumnus, Shireen Maqsood, said that she had travelled the world before coming to Napa. “I came here to learn Urdu. Zia Mohyeddin allowed me to join his class,” she said, adding that at the time she joined his class in 2018, she was a grandmother. “I had already been through so many of life’s experiences though I was studying, preparing for tests and exams and feeling the stress of any normal student all over again,” she laughed.

“Learning from stalwarts like Talat Hussain, Rahat Kazmi, Khalid Ahmed and, of course, Zia Mohyeddin was an experience like no other. I also learned a lot rubbing shoulders with my much younger classmates,” she said before reading out Zehra Nigah’s poem Gul Chandni.

Samina Nazeer, also a Napa alumnus and now an actor, teacher and an author, said that she used to live in Africa. “But I was in the US when I heard of Napa and felt inspired to come here,” she said.

“I came to Napa in 2008. I was the fourth batch here, which passed out in 2011,” she said, adding that she just grabbed her son and came here. Her husband still resides in Africa as she pursues her dream here.

“Initially, I wanted to direct plays but then I started writing, too,” she said. “Napa and theatre change you a lot. I opened my production house soon after graduating and started producing plays. My work prompted Zia Mohyeddin to write to me and say that he was happy to see Napa was producing talent,” she said.

Speaking about transitioning from theatre to the screen, she said that in television they don’t have to learn small bits of the script instead of learning entire plays by heart, which they did for the stage. “So life becomes easier,” she said. “But still I would advise young people not to rush into leaving the theatre for the screen.”

Writer and critic Naheed Waheed Qureshi, who teaches acting, said that she had only come to Napa for a short course. “But then after seeing some of my performances Zia Mohyeddin offered me a full course,” she said.

“I was interested in direction. But then I also attended a three-year writing course after a three-year direction course,” she said. “Not finding much work after leaving Napa, I started a forum for students at the Arts Council of Pakistan.”

Uzma Azhar, a music teacher, who graduated in guitar, said that she started singing when she was in school. “I wanted to learn professional singing. But then I gave up that idea while doing my graduation. After that I came to Napa to learn to play musical instruments and jazz. In my batch only two girls were learning guitar. I was still in my final year here when I started teaching playing instruments at schools from grade one to grade eight,” she said.

“My father was in the army. He didn’t understand music. I used to hide my guitar from him until he also realised my talent and accepted it,” she said.

Earlier, Napa’s theatre actor Adina Hussain recited Fahmida Riaz’s poem Chaddar Aur Char Deewari.

Afreen Seher, head of department of Theater Arts, said that they have always tried to facilitate women at Napa. “When I joined there was only one female theatre teacher, but now we have many. We have also put up many plays on women themes, in which both girls and boys take part,” she said.

Parvati, who helps around at the academy, shared her happy experience of working at Napa. “I have worked here and even played small roles on stage,” she said, adding that her three children are also associated with Napa and are students of art and music.

Napa’s CEO Sameeta Ahmed also spoke.

In conclusion, two Napa student performers — Shazana Darya Khan, a folk performer, and Samra Tahir, a student of vocals — entertained the audience through their singing.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2025