(1928-2017)
Bano Qudsia was an eminent novelist, short story writer andplaywright of Urdu. Her novel “Raja Gidh’’ is considered as one of the most famous novels of Urdu. Aatish Zair-i-Paa, Amarbail, Aasy Paasy, Bazghasht, Footpath Ki Ghaas, Hasil Ghaat, Samaani-
Wajood and Shehr-i-Bay Misaal are some of her other significant works. Bano Qudsia also wrote Urdu and Punjabi plays for radio and television. Qudsia was born in 1928 in Ferozpur, Punjab. She migrated to Lahore with her family during the tumultuous partition of the Asian subcontinent and later graduated from Kinnaird College. She then joined Government College, Lahore for Master in Urdu Literature, where she met Ashfaq Ahmad, another giant of Urdu literature and later got married to him. In 1986, she was given the Taj Award for Best Playwright. The government acknowledged her contributions to literature and was bestowed with Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 1983 and the Hilal-e-Imtiaz in 2010. Pakistan Academy of Letters honoured the renowned author by awarding her with Kamal-e-Fun Award in 2010. Qudsia was an inspirational figure for the youth. Her generosity, kindness and love guided the young and helped many budding writers.