Prof Wadud leaves behind a legacy of unforgettable services

PESHAWAR: Noted educationist, artiste and a recipient of national civil award, Prof Wadud Manzar, passed away on Monday, leaving behind unforgettable memories of services rendered by him in various fields.
Born and raised in Peshawar city, Wadud Manzar did his FA from Edwardes College, BA from Islamia College Peshawar and MA Urdu from Oriental College, Lahore. He joined Education Department as lecturer in 1962 and served at different colleges of the province.
He remained principal of various colleges before retirement in 1997. He was popular with the students and fellow teachers as he was a source of encouragement for all.
Though Manzar adopted teaching as career, his artistic qualities prompted him to step into acting. His love for acting arose from the stage dramas at Edwardes College and Islamia College as a student. His role in radio dramas started in 1955 and he acted in over 600 Urdu plays.
When Pakistan Television Rawalpindi centre started telecasts from Chaklala in 1970, Manzar was the only artiste from his province to be called for performing role in a TV drama. He acted in a number of Urdu and Hindko dramas. He starred in the first Hindko drama serial of Peshawar TV in 1976.
It was titled Tatian Chawan (sizzling shadows) scripted by late progressive writer Johar Meer, who co-pioneered Hindko Journalism in Peshawar along with Akhunzada Mukhtar Ali Nayyar through daily Anjaam on May 7, 1960.
Manzar s memorable Urdu drama serials included Aik Tha Gaon, Sudagar and Chingarian. His last TV performance was in Hindko play Deevay Dee Lo (Glow of the lamp) that was telecast to mark the Independence Day on August 14. He was associated with TV for 40 years.
The veteran artiste also appeared in a few Urdu and Pashto films, Mera Naam hey Mohabbat, Bemisal and Neelam in Urdu and Deedan in Pashto to name a few.
Prof Wadood Manzar won the best drama artist of PBC Excellence Award in 2001.
The senior TV and radio artiste was decorated with the prestigious Tamgha-e-Imtiaz award in recognition of his services in the field of acting in 2009.
Once in a chat with The News, he said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (then NWFP) had produced great artistes who ruled the world of cinema in India.
Naming Prithvi Raj, Raj Kapoor, Shami Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Dilip Kumar (Yousaf Khan), Premnath and Zikria Khan, the father of Amjad Khan and popularly known as Jaint in the showbiz, he said all these stars hailed from the Walled City of Peshawar and earned fame to prove that the people of this part of the world were next to none in art and culture.
It is interesting to note that most of the men of literature and culture from this part of the world got prominence and recognition only after leaving the province. It is a matter of serious concern that must be addressed, Prof Manzar had said on the occasion. It was his complaint that the artistes from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa never won due recognition in their own province.
Firdous Jamal started his acting career from Peshawar with a Hindko drama serial, Badnami Dey Toway, in the mid-70s. Qavi Khan was senior to me by two years. Both the gentlemen belong to Peshawar. I strongly believe they would not have won the fame had they remained in Peshawar, he opined at the time.
The senior artiste said the people associated with showbiz were not getting any financial benefit from the government.
Whatever meagre amount paid to them in return for their skills wasn t sufficient for meeting the day-to-day needs. This is the main reason that most of the artistes do not take acting as their profession, he had said.