Born in Multan, on the 14th of January 1950, Professor Dr Asghar Nadeem Syed received his early schooling in Multan before completing his master’s degree in Urdu Literature at the University of the Punjab in Lahore. The inquisitive soul then pursued his dream of higher education and achieved his Ph.D. degree from Baha-ul-Din Zikria University, Multan.
He has been recognized for his contributions to well-known TV plays and serials including ‘Chaand Garahn’, ‘Nijaat’, ‘Hawaien’, ‘Ghulam Gardish’, ‘Khuda Zameen Se Gaya Nahin’, ‘Pyaas’, ‘Dariya’, ‘Maigh Malhar’, and ‘Bol Meri Machli’ among others. He has also authored numerous books including the novelette ‘Aadhe Chand Ki Raat’, the novel ‘Tooti Hui Tanab Udhar’, poetry titled ‘Adhoori Kulliyat’ and other books, ‘Tarz-e-Ehsas’, ‘Kahani Mujhay Mili’, ‘Dasht-e-Imkaan’ and ‘Dabistan Khul Gaya’.
In addition to his position as a faculty member of the Government College Lahore, Dr Syed has worked as the head of the department of television, film and theatre at Beaconhouse National University Lahore, as a media consultant at the Pakistan Television Corporation, and as the director of the Lahore Museum. Dr Syed has won numerous awards including the Pride of Performance Award, the Nigar Awards (15), The Graduate Awards (20), and The Best Writer of Pakistan Television Award.
MAK: We would be glad to know about your parents, early life, childhood memories, school days and your dream of life.
ANS: My father hailed from a village near Chachraan Shareef (Bahawalpur State), the abode of the great Sufi Poet Khowaja Ghulam Farid. He couldn’t study beyond the middle grade as the school was 15 kilometres away from his village. His spiritual education and association is linked with his father and he was acknowledged, in this regard, by so many rich people and feudals who used to wait for him in their cars parked outside our house, but my father was always on a bicycle. The character played by Afzal Ahmed in my serial “Piyas” was actually my father’s reflection. My mother studied up to grade five only, but she was a well-mannered and seasoned lady and taught his all children how to cook various dishes: being the eldest son, I learned a lot and I am proud to be a very good chef. Besides, I used to take care of and milk the cow and process all the domestic dairy products. Our parents worked hard for our education and, with the grace of the Almighty, three of us have reached the rank of professors, while one sister has been at a superior post in Human Rights Commission and a brother is doctor.
MAK: Were you interested in and tilted towards creative arts and fiction writing right from your birth or it was an accidental path in life?
ANS: Before switching onto the fiction writing, I started writing poetry and columns and have been a very popular student [at] Emerson College, Multan where I studied and taught as a lecturer for six years each. My poetry was published in Syed Sibt-e-Hassan’s literary magazines like ‘Fanoon’, ‘Pakistani Adab’, ‘Auraaq’ and ‘Seep’. Hence, I got affiliated with the literary circles and was blessed with the friendship of Sarmad Sehbai, Kalim Akhter, Anwer Shaoor and Sarvat Hussain, and, with the passage of time, the circle expanded to Parveen Shakir, Fahmida Riaz, Kishwer Naheed, Muneer Niazi and others. After getting married to a girl of Lahore, I came closer to Faiz Ahmed Faiz also and, once, during celebrating Faiz Saheb’s birthday, the martial law regime of General Zia-ul-Haq started arresting the concerning intellectuals and persons, and I had to flee to Shakar Garh where I was posted as a lecturer. Soon after this incident, PTV Lahore centre called me and asked to write a special play in connection to the Independence Day of Pakistan: so, my first play ‘Subha Ki Dastak’ was produced by producer Kunwar Aftab who was a learned person and educated in the USA.
MAK: You are a role model for many people from different walks of life and age-groups. Who is your role model in life and field of work?
ANS: Well, I do not have any one person in particular to be regarded as my ideal because a number of people inspired, supported and guided me directly or indirectly in my life and career. I came across and had friendship with many people due to being associated with showbiz and arts and culture corridors. However, I owe a lot to Intizar Hussain, Zia Mohydin, Professor Karrar Hussain, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Dr Gopi Chand Narang, Altaf Fatima, Syed Sibt-e-Hassan, Abdullah Hussain, Munir Niazi, A Hameed, Hameed Akhter, Ahmed Faraz, Zaheer Kashmiri, Sheheryar (the poet of Umrao Jaan Ada) and Mohammad Ali (actor).
MAK: Which was your first giant literary venture? How and when did you win fame and popularity?
ANS: I earned recognition and appreciation in more than one genre or fields after working in diverse areas. First, I got my niche as a poet in the chambers of poetic circles and then, embarked on fiction writing with my first dramatic venture titled as ‘Dariya’. As it was the story of the desserts of Chulistan, it was exclusively admired in Sindh for the people there associated that play with the deserts of Thar. Then, I wrote the highly cherished serial ‘Piyaas’ that won me real fame and popularity and I was awarded with PTV Silver Jubilee Award. Aon the basis of this masterpiece, I was invited, along with Initizar Hussain and Dr Anwer Sajjad, to attend the theatre festival of Iran where we saw approximately hundred plays. Next, I created another hit serial ‘Khowahish’ that depicted the lives of common Pakistanis, and it was followed by the great serial ‘Chaand Grahan’ that made me world famous. In 1991, when my wife and I visited Delhi, at our maiden visit, a boy was shouting in a market ‘Chaand Grahan aa Gaya’. Then, I came to know that the serial has arrived in India through Dubai and was released by Shalimar Recording Company. Then, famous writer Joginder Paal said to me at dinner, “Please finish your dinner and allow us to leave because the last episode of your serial Chaand Grehen is about to start.” That was really a pleasant bombshell.
MAK: You have been conferred upon many awards for your impressive creative and literary services. Which play, story, or book is your most favourite one out of your collection of poetic ventures?
ANS: The list comprises many literary ventures and all of these you have already mentioned as per your knowledge and information. Currently I am enthusiastically looking forward to my upcoming novel titled “Dasht-e-Imkaan”. It is being translated into English with the title “Impossible Possibilities”. Moreover, I have just completed compiling the History of Global Cinema in Urdu and it would be the first venture in the whole India, in this regard. As my poetic journey is still going on and on, I cannot dub any book my most favourite one.
MAK: Do you believe in ‘art for the sake of art’ or ‘art for the sake of life’?
ANS: I always see art through the lenses of life and it is nothing else but the natural phenomena and the spirit of life around us that create art and inspire a man to learn, ponder over and write on them. For me, the art is only life and that is my asset. Art is not like something intuitive, but it is thought, imagination and the dream we see while being awake.
MAK: You have highlighted the issues of oppression, injustice and social coercions in most of your plays. Is there any specific reason or personal experience of your life that led you to bear the torch in this regard?
ANS: The social injustice or tragedies of human life portrayed in my plays and stories are inspired by and based on true situations and characters of the society: I believe in faction instead of fiction. My personal observations and experiences are a great source of my poetic and literary reactions and responses.
MAK: What role can the writers and poets play for the refinement of the society and guiding it to the path of reforms and welfare?
ANS: The sole responsibility of an author, poet and artist is to challenge the injustice and oppressiveness openly whether it is being exercised by the ruling class, state, religious circles or the mafias. If the writers fall prey to certain diplomacies and compromises, they are no more important in a society.
MAK: You have been very close to Ashfaq Khan Saheb, Bano Qudsia Saheba, and many other inspiring personalities connected to the fields of creative arts and literature. Would you please enlighten us with your experiences and learning outcomes of your association with them?
ANS: I have been blessed to be a friend of highly impressive intellectuals like Ashfaq Khan Saheb, Bano Qudsia Saheba, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Dr Gopi Chand Narang, Syed Sibt-e-Hassan, Abdullah Hussain, Munir Niazi, A Hameed, Hameed Akhter, Ahmed Faraz, Zaheer Kashmiri, Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi and Qurat-ul-Ain Haider. I have also composed a book “Phirta Hay Falak Barson”, in this regard. That is a great treasure of my life.
MAK: Did you ever work, in any capacity, for the entertainment or showbiz industry of any other country, especially the neighbouring state?
ANS: I have worked for the theatre in England with the great playwright Roxannie. Besides, Indian writer Deepa Mehta visited me in Pakistan for guidance when she was working with Amir Khan’s famous film ‘Earth’ that was based upon Bapsi Sidwa’s novel, ‘the Ice candy Man.’ Johns Hopkins University, USA, produced my play ‘Nijaat’ and this very fact is a matter of bliss for me.
MAK: As a professional and intellectual, you are a source of pride for the family and society. How do you see Asghar Nadeem Syed as a friend, son, husband and father?
ANS: I am a humble and simple person and feel happy to see my two daughters and a son happy in their personal and professional life. My spouse Sheeba Alam is the Head of The Department of Urdu at Kinnaird College Lahore.
MAK: Is there any unforgettable incident of your life that still haunts you?
ANS: My first wife Farzana died in 2000 in Lahore due to the negligence of the doctors and it has always been a nightmare and the most shocking incident in my life. That time I was in London.
MAK: Are you happy with your life or still there are dreams and ambitions that have not been realised and fulfilled? Do you have any regret?
ANS: I pray to the Almighty to grant me life for compiling the cinematic history of the world and my autobiography. Apart from that, I am working on some other books also and the voyage is continuous.
MAK: We have established a lot of universities and higher education institutions during last two-three decades, but the society is rapidly declining, [with] regard to social development and the state of moral values, cultural norms, peace and security, etc. As an educationist and scholar, what do you think is the root-cause of that overall social depravity?
ANS: Unfortunately, our universities are not working on the lines of the international universities, and it is why we hardly have any university that can be ranked amongst the one thousand world universities. I have seen and observed the procedures of many countries' higher education institutions: not to speak of following the developed world, we cannot compete with the universities of even India, Singapore and Indonesia. It is tragic.
MAK: What would you like to say as a piece of advice to the youth of the country?
ANS: I advise the youth to focus on reading good books and avoid watching Pakistani TV channels and the crude buffoonery demonstrated by the street clowns they offer.
The interviewer is an educator, author, and journalist, can be reached at muttahir_khan@hotmail.com