Bano Qudsia

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Bano Qudsia (Urdu: بانو قدسیہ‎; 28 November 1928 – 4 February 2017) was a Pakistani novelist, playwright and spiritual thinker who wrote mainly in Urdu. She is best known for her novel Raja Gidh (The King Vulture), which is considered a modern Urdu classic. She also wrote for television and stage in Urdu and Punjabi, and her acclaimed play Aadhi Baat is regarded as a classic.

Bano Qudsia was born Qudsia Chattha in Firozpur, British India. Her family moved to Lahore after the partition of India. She studied at Kinnaird College in Lahore and earned a master’s degree in Urdu literature from the Government College University, Lahore, in 1951.

She married fellow writer Ashfaq Ahmed, and the couple had three sons: Aneeq, Anees and Aseer. The two became influential figures in Pakistani literature. Qudsia wrote many novels, short stories, and plays, including Aatish-i-zer-i-paa, Haasil Ghaat, Hawwa Kay Naam, Seharay, Chahar Chaman and Chhotaa Sheher Baray Log. She also produced works about Ashfaq Ahmed and his philosophy, such as Raah-e-Raawan, published in 2011, and helped complete his Baba Saheba autobiography.

Bano Qudsia received several important awards for her work, including Sitara-i-Imtiaz (1983), Hilal-i-Imtiaz (2011), Kamal-e-Fun Award (2012), and a Lifetime Achievement Award (2016). She passed away in Lahore on 4 February 2017 at the age of 88 and was buried there.