Writers pay tribute to Bajia
Like Fatima Surayya Bajia’s home, doors of the session paying tribute to her were open for everyone.
People from diverse backgrounds came in to listen to Zehra Nigah speak not only about the talented sister and playwright but also the humble personality Bajia was. “Bajia never closed the doors of her house. She helped countless people during her life. Even on her funeral, there were a number of people whom we never met but were only there for her.”
Nigah, a renowned poet herself, said that Bajia did not let the countless awards she received affect her. “She believed in hard work and continued to do so till the end”.
“My other sister would often ask Bajia to keep track of her things to which she always replied ‘humari zindagi tou behisaab hi guzar gaye’”.
Remembering the person Bajia was, Nigah said that now that she looks back she believes she did not get enough time to spend with Bajiya.
Taking the discussion forward, Arfa Sayeda Zehra, who moderated the session, spoke about how drama serials play a role in grooming a society. “Serials should be close to life, ones that people can relate to and take something positive from.”
In response to a question of whether the audiences’ choice affects the content of a show, writer Masood Ashar said that dramas show people what is happening in the society. “But while the dramatist is writing the present, he is also a dreamer predicting the future for you”.
Zehra said that while social media had made knowledge easily accessible for the younger generation it had put an end to their curiosity and the effort they put in to educate themselves.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2016.