Farhat Naseeb: More than just an autobiography

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Farhat Naseeb, the recently published autobiography of renowned social scientist, Prof Dr Farhat Azeem, is indeed much more than just a chronicle of events of an individual as the book contains eye-witness accounts of one of the worst-ever bloodsheds witnessed in human history. 

The first couple of chapters of the book relate to the communal riots which devastated the sub-continent at the time of partition of India and creation of Pakistan in August 1947. The families of her father as well as mother were direct victims of the massacre in Delhi on the eve of their migration to Lahore. 

The tales of horror narrated in these two chapters present a first-hand depiction which could bring tears in many eyes. The pain and agony of watching the loved ones to be cut into pieces caused a trauma which haunted them forever. 

Then there was a miracle of sort when the author’s parents were reunited in the most extraordinary of circumstances after having parted ways in the chaos of partition which brought them to live in different cities for over a year. 

The phenomenal rise of the author from a humble beginning to an acclaimed social scientist and educationist should inspire the readers as she endured the toughest of challenges and sacrificed lots of things in attaining the cherished goals of her life. 

She has credited veteran journalist and poet, Mahmood Sham, a former editor of the famous Jang newspaper, for having provided her the platform as the life of her story was published in the form of articles over a period of around two years in the monthly magazine Atraf and later the content was reproduced as chapters of what became her autobiography. 

Having taught and worked at the various educational institutions of repute for the past many decades, the soft-spoken Professor is currently serving the College of Accounting and Management Sciences (CAMS) in Karachi as its Principal.