National Institute of Public Policy NIPP) arranged a special gathering to pay tribute to the legendary author and masterful story teller of Pakistan, Bapsi Sidhwa, at NSPP campus. It was attended by civil servants, academicians, intellectuals, participants of the National Management Course. The notable speakers were Muneeza Hashmi, Perin Boga and Naveed Shahzad.
Dr. Naveed Elahi Dean NIPP welcomed the guests and eulogised Bapsi as the Pakistani novelist of world wide acclaim. He termed her a quintessential Lahori. He said that her book The Beloved City: Writings on Lahore is a testimony of her association with Lahore. He stressed that novels can have a profound impact on Public policy. Bapsi’s novels encourage critical thinking on serious issues of our society. Acclaimed and seasoned broadcaster and producer Mrs Moneeza Hashmi recalled her meetings and friendship with Sidhua. She said she visited her regularly in Houston in the last few years before her death. She said she came to know much later that Sidhwa was so close to her father Faiz Ahmed Faiz and that he had unwavering support for getting her book published in Pakistan and in Russia.
Longtime family friend and fellow Mrs Perin Boga shared memories of her family with Bapsi and her parents. She described her life as a child with polio and difficulties she passed through as a child and a teenager.
Naveed Shahzaad a legendary figure in Pakistan’s entertainment and academic circles recalled Sidhwa’s humor and wisdom, describing her as “a fearless storyteller who brought the complexities of South Asian history to life with empathy and grace.” She said that Sidhwa’s legacy lives on through her books, which continue to resonate with readers worldwide. As a pioneering literary voice, she remains an enduring inspiration for writers and readers alike.
The event also featured a brief documentary on Sidhwa’s life and writings with narrations from her novels Ice Candy Man and the American Brat.
The guests and participants praised NSPP for arranging this event to pay tribute to Bapsi.
