ISLAMABAD – “My interest to write keeps me connected with this land where I have some cherished memories,” said Qaisra Shahraz, an eminent British-Pakistani English writer, presently visiting Pakistan.
She stated these remarks during an interactive session with students and faculty members of English Studies Department at National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad, on Thursday. The session was presided over by Associate Professor Dr Shaheena Ayub Bhatti, Head of Research and Publication Cell, while Iftikhar Arif, renowned poet and writer, was the guest of honour.
“After being shifted to England at a very early age of her life, she spent a double life there. One was the life which had strong emotional liking for Pakistan and other was of a young studying girl in a modern society. These cherished memories were all that helped her to write about the social, cultural and traditional issues of this society, Qaisra Shahraz told students.
Shahraz also stated that her novels “Holy Women”, and “Typhhon” got such a wide and warm appreciation as to be translated and published in various countries including India, Turkey, Indonesia, Holland and Pakistan and her short stories “A Pair of Jeans” has been included in syllabus of Germany.
Her other play “Dil Hi Tuo Hai” which is translated in Urdu, has been telecasted on various TV channels and has won two TV awards.
Shahraz said, “Since she knew less about Pakistan, she had to work very hard and research sometimes for simple things to get a complete grasp of an issue”, she added.
Iftikhar Arif speaking at the occasion said, “Qaisra Shahraz writes about values, traditions and morality. The good thing about her writing is that she didn’t wash the dirty Lenin before the West rather she is sympathetic and loyal towards Pakistan, Muslims and Islam”.
In the end Shahraz also read out some selected extracts from her novels, explained to students the exact setting, plots and characters of her novels, her writing techniques and answered the questions.