BITS ‘N’ PIECES
Fatima Surayya Bajia was a renowned Urdu novelist, playwright, and drama writer of Pakistan. Born on September 1, 1930, in Hyderabad, India, she never attended a formal school and acquired all her education at home. Despite this, she was ranked amongst the eminent intellectuals and writers of the country. Talent ran in the DNA of her family. Her siblings – Anwar Maqsood, Zehra Nigah, Zubaida Tariq (cooking expert) and Mrs Kazmi (famous dress designer) – are famous personalities.
Bajiya was awarded various awards at home and abroad, including Japan’s highest civil award in recognition of her works.
She was also an ardent feminist and the founder of Khwateen key Meilaad. Her first long play was titled ‘Mehman’.
She contributed for the literary programs like Auraaq, beauty care programs (among them Aaraish-e-Khaam-e-Kakal), and also produced programs for children.
She was just 16 years younger than her mother.
Some of the famous dramas of Bajiya included Shama, Afshan, Aroosa, Zeenat, Ana, Arzoo, Sassi Panoo and Auraq.
She died after losing a battle with cancer at the age of 85 on February 10, 2016.
Italy reads Pakistan
A writer is the most imaginative individual on this planet because he knows no rules and boundaries and he is free to express his orthodox or unorthodox ideas – even if that means going back in time.
Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) has always served as a bridge for the immensely talented Pakistani writers to showcase their abilities on literary platforms.
In 2016’s edition of KLF, a session was organized in which the Italian Consulate, in collaboration with Metropoli d’Asia, an independent publisher of Asian-focused fiction in Italy, unveiled a contest “Italy Reads Pakistan”. The aim of the contest is to find a budding Pakistani writer who has written an unpublished novel (or published only in Pakistan) in Urdu or English. The winner will be selected by a Pakistan jury, who will be eventually decided by an Italian jury. This extraordinary initiative will enable the deserving winner to have his novel published by the Italian publisher and be on the country’s literary shelves.
During the session, Italian Consul General Gianluca Rubagotti shed light on the rich heritage of Italy and its love for writing. HM Naqvi, the author of Home Boy, enlightened the audience about the importance of translations in narrowing gaps between cultures. Naqvi had brought both his English and Italian editions of Home Boy, and Metropoli d’Asia’s Andrea Berrini read the translation in Italian. The issue of Orientalism (the representation of different cultures in books) was also brought under discussion. Berrini also shared her experience and unflinching struggle in bringing reality to Italian public when there is fabricated information available, too, and when not everything that is portrayed by media is true.
Compiled by Usama Rasheed
