He spoke with such exuberance that each one of his sentences had a deep meaning that revealed one of life’s many truths. His mind pondered upon the simplest and the complicated facades of our society and his narratives – mostly his personal experiences – showed us life’s intricacies, facts, and mysteries. What he shared with the world as a speaker and as a writer were guidelines for the present generations and the ones of the future. Ashfaq Ahmed needs no introduction for he became a household name across Pakistan for his casual style of conversation that always expanded the audiences’ mental horizon.
Ashfaq Ahmed’s book, Zavia, a collection of inspirational, thought-provoking stories that were based on his experiences presented Ahmed’s outlook to life. Zavia is still read across Pakistan and is available in several volumes. His television show that he hosted, also called Zavia, saw him speaking to a selected audience where his talks were a lesson for all. The book, Zavia, was named after the show.
Ashfaq Ahmed’s life was greatly inspired by Qudrat Ullah Shahab and Mumtaz Mufti, two icons of the Pakistani literature domain who changed and evolved the art of storytelling. This is why Ashfaq Ahmed was deeply inclined towards about Sufism. And why wouldn’t he be when both Qudrat Ullah Shahab and Mumtaz Mufti had Sufism and its many traits deeply ingrained in their thought process, character and life. Born on August 22, 1925, in Ferozpur, Ashfaq Ahmed’s calling was to become a playwright and he became one in all of its essence and entirety. A storyteller par excellence and a social reformer by thought, Ashfaq Ahmed’s true insights to our society and his perception to observe through black and white enabled him to understand the society’s many aspects and then to talk about them in great detail. Interestingly, the first magazine that he published was named “Daastango” which means storyteller. He was also a radio broadcaster and started his radio show Talqeen Shah or The Preacher which enabled him to reach out to Pakistan’s rural areas. It ran for nearly three decades, which then became the longest-running radio show in the sub-continent. Because of his command over the Urdu language he was appointed as the director of the Markazi Urdu Board in 1966. It was later renamed as Urdu Science Board. He served on this post for 29 years. Serving as an advisor in the Ministry of Education during the reign of Zia-ul-Haq, Ashfaq Ahmed authored books including Gadria, Aik Mohabat So Afsanay, Tota Kahani, Band Gali. His career as a TV playwright brought to fore classics such as Mun Chaley Ka Sauda, Nangay Paun, Baba Sahib, and Khel Tamashay.
Ashfaq Ahmed’s life was greatly inspired by Qudrat Ullah Shahab and Mumtaz Mufti, two icons of the Pakistani literature domain who changed and evolved the art of storytelling. This is why Ashfaq Ahmed was deeply inclined towards about Sufism. And why wouldn’t he be when both Qudrat Ullah Shahab and Mumtaz Mufti had Sufism and its many traits deeply ingrained in their thought process, character and life
Being well-versed in literature, philosophy, psychology, and socialism, Ashfaq Ahmed was more than just a writer or a playwright. He was a storyteller who knew the social aspects, norms and the implications of every new idea that bred in the minds of the people. He had an eye on the future which is why whatever he talked about in Zavia stands true even today, fifteen years after his passing away in 2004. Ashfaq Ahmed and his wife, Bano Qudsia, a popular and a successful playwright and writer of Pakistan were inseparable during their lifetime which was largely evident during their interviews. It is inspiring to note that he was a lecturer at the Dayal Singh College, Lahore before going to Rome, Italy where he became an Urdu newscaster and also served as a lecturer for Urdu at the Rome University.
One aspect of Ashfaq Ahmed that influenced me to become a writer was his casual approach when telling stories. When watching Zavia, the TV program or reading Zavia, the book, you can feel his words, thoughts and opinions easing their way in your mind and finding a place before peacefully merging with your thought process. He never asserted his thoughts on to his audience. His honest narratives about life, insightful stories about people and apt description of experiences expressed with veracity and blended with simplicity in language and depth in meaning made him a storyteller whose words will always instil hope and happiness among his readers. I always find one of Ashfaq Ahmed’s accounts very touching. He wrote in one of his books, “Once in Rome, Italy, I had to appear before a magistrate for not paying my fine on time. Upon the judge inquiring me on my inability to pay the fine, I told him that I was a teacher and that I had been busy for many days. Before I could complete my sentence, the judge said, A teacher is in the court. On hearing this, everyone present there stood up along with the judge. My fine was cancelled. That day I realised the secret behind that nation’s development.”
The writer is an independent researcher, author and columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]