INCREDIBLE COUPLE!

Ashfaq Ahmed married Bano Qudsia
sometime during 1955 at Lahore.
Bano Qudsia became BANO by
adopting Islam as her religion from Christianity.

I have a lot to say and talk about this
amazing couple of
DASTAN-E-SERAI, Model Town, Lahore.

BANO QUDSIA is a 'moo boli' sister to my
Dad Jamiluddin Aali..and a great friend to my Mom.

My first ever interaction with Ashfaq Chacha
dates back to 1960 at Katrak Hall, Karachi
during a ceremony of Pakistan Writers Guild..
and after ten years in 1970 during
my Lahore visit, Ashfaq Chacha took his bets
and cast me as ALI EJAZ's son in his TV serial
"SHEHR-E-ARZOO"
directed by Qamber Ali Shah at Lahore TV Centre.
********
********

ASHFAQ AHMED was an amazing person with
amazing God gifted qualities to write such
rich literature---extricating the plight of
humanity which is stricken some way.

Formation of his script and the depth of his dialogues
sometimes stuck in our throats due to their importance
and heights and weight...

He made people like Mohammad Qavi Khan, Roohi Bano
who are the foundations of Pak TV showbiz on drama acting.

Had it not been the strong scripts and dialogues of
Ashfaq Ahmed
Qavi and many others...like Dr. Anwar Sajjad,
Khalid Saeed Butt, Farooq Zamir, Navin Tajik,
Usman Pirzada..the list goes on....
wouldn't have been..what they are today.

contd......

just got a copy of ashfaq ahmed's "aik muhabbat so afsanay" during my trip to pakistan....
its amazing!!!!

aik muhabbat so afasaney
oh i cannot forget those dramas
just super

^ I also have seen the dramas plus I would love to read "Raja Gidh" recommended by my so many friends.

I would like to share a clip from a show on PTV I like the way she says "Ishfaq Ahmed meri chadar bhi thay aur chaar diwaari bhi"

When I read "Tota Kahani", I developed a newfound respect for ashfaq ahmed. I've seen the drama series on PTV, but when I read it, I realized that Ashfaq Ahmed did not just write the drama, he wrote it from the perspective of audience. Its like he was thinking from audience mind, without loosing his amaizng thought process. Its hard to explain what I am saying, guess one has to watch the series and read the book to understand

When it comes to Bano Qudsiya, I believe that "Raja Gidh" is the best novel ever written in Urdu Literature. I have not read all the novels but I have read my share of Urdu literature and the novel is just amazing.

The technique and the storry telling is so un-usual, its almost a trend setter (dont know if anyone followed that trend or not).

I am really surprised that when people talk about Ali poor ka Aili and Aag ka Darya, they dont bring Raja Gidh to that standard. I might be biased but Raja Gidh is a much better class writing than the other two.

I don't use L word at all.
But I love ashfaq ahmad just as if he was my real chacha or taeaa.
I just loved him. the way he talked/the way he looked his philosophy.
So kind so wise.
allah unheen jannat me buland darjaat ata kery

^^ Ameen to that dua

He created so many great TV shows. I loved his series aik mohabbat so afsanay and many other dramas written by him. Allah marhoom ko jannat naseeb karay. Ameen.

I am in final stage of Ashfaq Chacha's profile...which you all will see here by coming Thursday.

Just yesterday.. I was discussing Ashfaq Chacha ans Bano Chachee with Abbu and Ammi..and came to know lots more...which I find worth sharing with an august forum like this.

Khush Rahein....

ASHFAQ AHMED;

Short story writer, Intellectual, dramatist---et al, Ashfaq Ahmed was born to Dr. Mohammad Khan at Ferozepur on 22 August-1925.
He did his masters (Urdu Literature) from Government College-Lahore and became a lecturer at Dayal Singh College. Later he earned
an assignment in Rome University (Italy) and taught Urdu there....and achieved a diploma in Italian language. He had complete mastery
on that language. He also achieved diploma in French language from University of France in Paris.

Later he proceeded to New York and worked as a broadcaster for Voice of America's Urdu section...and at the same time acquired
diploma in Radion Broadcasting.

Back in lahore--he actively participated in Radio Pakistan's various programs---by also producing and anchoring his own program
in punjabi and urdu--which became the most popular broadcast of Radio anywhere in Pakistan by the name of TALQEEN SHAH (he himself
was TS) who use to provide advisory services to the farmers and less fortunate ones...on various subjects through a dramatic sense.
He also established a publishing house by the name of "DAASTAAN-E-SERAI" (currently the name of his house in Model Town, lahore)
from where he published journals and magazines--popular being "DAASTAN GO".

The Ayub martial law (Pakistan's first ever) of 1958 saw the take over of PROGRESSIVE WRITERS ASSOCIATION of which Ashfaq Ahmed was
an active member.

Later Ashfaq Ahmed became the editor of the famous weekly "LAIL'O'NAHAR". Then he also became an honorary lecturer on punjabi language at Punjab University and Oriental College.

Then he moved to the RCD (Regional Cooperation for Development--between Pakistan, Iran and Turkey) and became its Director for Cultural
Affairs...thereafter he became the Director-General of Urdu Dictionary Boardb from where he retired after three years.

Ashfaq Ahmed at the advent of PTV from Lahore in 1964---became an icon on drama writing and wrote many a series, serials and long plays
BUT...,.he achieved special fame when his masterpiece; "AIK MUHABBAT SAU AFSANE" was telecast from lahore Centre--which produced
some of the most memorable and powerful plays...still talked about by all and sundry.

His short story (Afsana) "GADDARIA" is considered as 'lafaani' in the world of 'afsane'

My pick of his TV plays..besides "AMSA" would be "MUNN CHALAY KA SAUDA"...which was classy by many counts.

In 1979 Ashfaq Ahmed was bestowed with PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN's PRIDE OF PERFORMANCE GOLD MEDAL for his meritorious services to Radio, TV and Literature.

His famed writings include; AIK MUHABBAT SAU AFSANE (Collection of love stories), UJLAY PHOOL, TOU'TAA KAHANI, TAALI DE THALLAY,
SHEHR KINARE, UCCHAY BURJ LAHORE DE, KARAVAN-E-SETRAI, HAIRATKADA, QILA KAHANI...the list goes on.

The scribe--of this note takes immense pleasure and honor tos tate here that he was one of those fortunate ones who has performed
in three of the series plays of Ashfaq Ahmed's "AIK MUHABBAT SAU AFSANE" and three episodes of "QILA KAHANI" from Lahore TV Centre.
He was a close friend and associate of my father--Jamiluddin Aali and his wife Bano Qudsia a very close friend to my mother Tayyaba
Aali....as such the proximity with Ashfaq Ahmed for me was indeec a blessed one.

I still call on Bano Aunty occasionally at DASTAAN E SERAI at J Block, Model town, Lahore.

Our famous TV star Maria Wasti's mom and dad being very close friends and associates to Ashfaq Ahmed family.. Maria got her a breakthrough from PTV Lahore due to Ashfaq Ahmed...and so did Mohammad Qavi Khan and Ali Ejaz...and many others.

Raju Jamil
=======

Next: BANO QUDSIA

His ek mohabbat sau afsanay were superb! Are they available on dvd?

Originally Posted by armughal

just got a copy of ashfaq ahmed's "aik muhabbat so afsanay" during my trip to pakistan....
its amazing!!!!

Originally Posted by ahmet2910

aik muhabbat so afasaney
oh i cannot forget those dramas
just super

I hope you are aware that the book named "Aik mohabbat sau afsanay" is not the same as PTV serial by the same name. The book that contains the scripts for the drama serial is "Aik mohabbat sau dramay".

i loved mun chaley ka soodda!

It feels so good to wholeheartedly participate in such threads... where we get to know something about our icons...some knowledge on our culture and performing arts.

I have decided to go with a series now and next would be IBNE INSHA followed by Ahmed Nadim Qasmi, Amjad Islam Amjad, Munnoo Bhai, Dr.Anwar Sajjad....the list goes on.

Mazaa aajaega AHLE ADAB KO....!

-Raju

-------------

Originally Posted by arjay

It feels so good to wholeheartedly participate in such threads... where we get to know something about our icons...some knowledge on our culture and performing arts.

I have decided to go with a series now and next would be IBNE INSHA followed by Ahmed Nadim Qasmi, Amjad Islam Amjad, Munnoo Bhai, Dr.Anwar Sajjad....the list goes on.

Mazaa aajaega AHLE ADAB KO....!

-Raju

-------------

Thanks for sharing, good read About AA. He was really a great man. Allah un ko Jannat naseeb karay. Ameen. Waiting for your homage to Bano Qudsia.
I would love to read something about Ibne Insha. I had full collection of his books back in Pakistan and used to read them again and again. I am building that collection again here in USA. The best one I loved was his Urdu Key Akhri Kitab. Superb commentary on the state of affairs in Pakistan at that time and all that is true still after so many years.

how purely she spoke of her husband. a legend in Urdu literature & a great couple, as Bano Qudsia recalls her life with her husband. a lot for us to learn from this what she said.
thanks for posting the clip.

BANO QUDSIA

Dramatist-Novelist, her real name is
Qudsia Bano.
She was born on 28 Nov-1928 in Ferozepur.

Did M.A. (Urdu Adab) from Punjab University in 1950.

Got married to Ashfaq Ahmed in 1956.

The couple..highly inclined towards promotion of
Urdu literature...ventured upon publishing
the famous journal "Dastaan Go" which was
widely read and did well for a decade+

BANO QUDSIA soon became the leading drama writer
for Radio Pakistan-Lahore where some of the ever
memorable plays..are still remembered by people
of the age--and era...most fondly.

27 Nov-1964 saw TV telecast made its way
to people's homes....and so did baloon
the popularity of both; Bano Qudsia and Ashfaq Ahmed
who wrote some classic long plays, serials and series
which are as infectious today also.

Major journals, magazines, booklets, books and
weekly, monthly URDU ADAB issues always
carried Bano Qudsia's dramas and segments
of her novels...which were popular and one
major reason for the success of such publications.

Some of Bano Aunty's works are;

NOVELS;
"AIK DIN" - "PARWAH" - "SHEHR-e-BE MISAAL"
"MOUM KI GALLIYAAN" - "CHH'HARR CHAMAN" - "RAJA GIDH"

SHORT STORIES (AFSANVI MAJMOOAY);
"NAQABIL-e-ZIKR" - "BAAZGASHHT" - "AMAR BEYL"
"KUCCH AUR NAHIN" - "AATISH ZEIRPA"

DRAMA;
"AADHI BAAT" - "DOOSRA QADDAM" - "HAWA KE NAAM"

Bano Qudsia also wrote a tribute to the writings
of Qudratullah Shahab titled;
"MARD-e-AAB RESHAM"

The last few years of Ashfaq Ahmed saw his house
"DASTAAN SERAI" at Model Town, lahore
flocked with enthusiasts in the evening...
to hear some mystic and sufi tales
from Ashfaq Chacha...and he guided people
so wonderfully.....well supported by Bano Aunty
as his 'Noor Jehan" always besides him.

Bano Qudsia is the recipient of
President of Pakistan's Pride of Performance Gold Medal
and PTV's "Lifetime Achievement" award bestowed
upon her (rather late) inNov-2007 at the Convention
Centre-Islamabad by President of Pakistan.

__________
The scribe of this note is privileged and honored to have been (and is) very close to the great and wondorous ASHFAQ AHMED & BANO QUDSIA...from my very early age...and it has been MY honor to write something on such aspired and inspired icons of Urdu Adab in Indo-Pak Subcontinent.

the couple always fascinated me. literally civilised academics, refreshingly original and fabulously vestige. although i think there isbano and ashfaq prior to Qudratul Allah and bano and ashfaq after him. Have to say the after is esoteric and utterly captivating. Mard e abraisham by qudsia is delightful