KARACHI: Friends, colleagues and admirers recalled the life and work of eminent writer Haseena Moin, who passed away on March 26, at a condolence reference held in her honour on Sunday at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, of which she was the vice-president.

Poet Iftikhar Arif said he had known Ms Moin from the time when she and her two sisters used to write sketches for children on Radio Pakistan. Then he joined Pakistan Television and she wrote a play titled Happy Eid Mubarak for TV, after which she went on to pen many single plays and serials.

He said writers and artists tend to easily become sad because of the tiniest issue, but she was not one of those. She lived alone and those who live alone often leave the world with an incomplete story. She wrote plays the way she wanted to write them. Her writing was spontaneous. She was the first writer who through her writings recorded protest against the social establishment of her time by virtue of her female protagonists. She mostly worked with producers Mohsin Ali and Zaheer Khan. Mr Arif urged the president of the Arts Council, Ahmed Shah, to publish her complete works.

Poet Kishwar Naheed remembered the time when she had a discussion with the late playwright on her heroine who acted with zaniness around the workplace.

Writer Anwar Maqsood said the last time he met Ms Moin was at the council. When he asked her how she was doing, she recited a Nazir Akbarabadi verse which had a premonitory ring.

Condolence reference held at Arts Council in Karachi

Senator Taj Haider said in 1949 his sister Shaista took admission to a local school. Ms Moin was her class fellow. She used to visit his household regularly. He pointed out that the time she was writing plays was the time of oppression. “The kind of art which doesn’t let you think or make you ask questions doesn’t count as art.” Ms Moin’s art must be seen in that light – the questions that she raised in that oppressive atmosphere and the kind of confidence that she inculcated in girls who were oppressed for centuries was noteworthy.

Actor Sajid Hasan said it was difficult to describe his relations with the late writer. She was a cultured, soft-spoken (shaista) woman. He learnt the value of patience from her.

Actress and director Misbah Khalid said Ms Moin was writing a web series on breast cancer; she herself was a breast cancer survivor. They were together in Murree shooting for the series and had just returned from there to Karachi. “She was the kindest soul.”

Actor Behroz Sabzwari said Ms Moin was professionally so sound that producers would ask her to redo scenes but she wouldn’t mind it. “Wherever in the world Urdu is spoken or understood, her name would be remembered.”

Actress Sania Saeed said once she was in India and a girl by the name of Sana Kapoor came to interview her. She asked her about the name Sana, to which she replied that when she was born, the play Ankahi was being watched on video tapes in India. Sana was the lead female character from Ankahi.

Actor Shakeel said the last time he met Ms Moin was when he came to vaccinate himself at the council. He added that he’s the artist who got the most chances to work in her plays.

Ahmed Shah said Arts Council Hall-1 will be named after Haseena Moin.

Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, Imrana Maqsood, Munawar Saeed, Zaheer Khan, Arshad Mahmud and Harris Khalique, among others, also spoke.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2021