ISLAMABAD: The inspiration behind the memorable PTV drama serial Rahain and author of dozens of Urdu and Punjabi short stories and novels, Mansha Yaad, passed away in Islamabad on Saturday. He was 72.
Yaad complained of chest pain and was shifted to the Islamic International Hospital where he died of cardiac arrest in the evening. He has left behind three sons, a daughter and a wife to mourn his death.
He was the father of The Express Tribune’s Assistant Accounts Manager Kashif Naveed.
Born in 1937, Yaad remained associated with PTV and Radio Pakistan for decades and proved his mettle as a playwright and storyteller. The famous Urdu drama serial Rahain was based on his award-winning Punjabi novel “Tanwan Tanwan Tara”.
His other writings for TV include Junoon, Bandhan, Pooray Chand ki Raat and Awaz — almost all of them famous and unforgettable. Yaad will be remembered most for his short stories. “Band Muthi main Jugnoo” and “Khala Andar Khala” were two of his most famous short stories.
“His stories always reflected his love for people and the pain he felt for the common man. He was a liberal man and always promoted broadmindedness,” said renowned writer Arshad Mehmood.
Yaad’s first short story appeared in 1955, when he was only 18. However, his first collection appeared in 1975. He published 10 collections of short stories in his lifetime.
“He was the representative of present era in short story writing and will always be remembered. He had a great quality to keep the readers glued to his stories,” said writer Ashfaq Saleem Mirza. He said Yaad’s death is a loss for the entire nation.
Yaad won multiple awards at national and international forums during his lifetime. He was awarded the Pride of Performance for Novel and Short Story Writing by the government in 2004. He was also awarded with Baba Farid Adabi Award for Best Novel Writer in 2006 for his works in Punjabi. The president and the prime minister also expressed grief over his demise.
Harf Academy members and poets Farzana Jana, Asad Baig, Col Maqbool Hussain and Malik Irfan Khani have condoled his death. He will be laid to rest at the H-8 Graveyard in Islamabad on Sunday after Zuhr prayers.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 16th, 2011.
COMMENTS (12)
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Yaad's death is a great loss no doubt.................May Allah rest him Peace!
This is heart breaking. I knew Mansha Yaad Sahib since the 1960s in Islamabad, as he was a very dear friend of my parents Ahsan Ali Khan and Akhtar Jamal. He was not only a great literary figure, but was also a wonderful person with a heart of gold, who always stood with his friends in good times and bad. May Allah Taala enable his loving family to cope with this enormous loss.
Tariq Ahsan
I wish I could explain the greatness of this author in words and could describe my feelings at this great loss. But I must say and those who have read his short stories collection would agree that he was the greatest fiction writer ever lived, more sublime than Stephen King, deeper social depiction than Rabindranath Tagore. Its always an ethereal experience to read his books, as it takes you to the highest level of serenity and symbolism. I dont know about other people but his writing has a mystifying effect on my thoughts and vision of life. May Allah rest his soul in peace.
Can't forget Rahain, one of the best dramas ever made in Pakistan. certainly a massive loss to Pakistan's adab.
I am sure you will not see many comments on this one because most of the people on ET i believe cant even read Urdu let alone know about this writer. And then the scary part is that they talk about pakistan's values and our culture, i mean how can you talk about our culture when the first thing you heard when you were born was micheal jackson in your rich high society homes.
Drama serial raahein and much more than that. .. Mansha Yaad the real mastermind to orchestrate events on screen with all the fine details. Truly a legend of story telling. May He rest in peace.
no doubt mansha yad was a distinguish short story write.especialy he depict the culture of punjab in his writings... his departure is a big loss for urdu literature.. may Allah bless him..
So sad. He was a legend. Rest in peace, Mr. Yaad.
He was the nicest person I have ever met. It is a great loss
Inna Lillahe Wa Inna Illaihe Raji'oon