Presidential Award for quality work not much: Bushra Farrukh

‘This was in 1971. I was in 8th standard, when I auditioned for Radio Pakistan. The station director cast me in the famous feature program of the time ‘Kahwah Khana’.’

I continued this program for 15 years. Which was a record.’

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa drama artist, writer and poet Bushra Farrukh, who was recently awarded the Presidential Award, told Independent Urdu that although she has been associated with the performing arts for 50 years, she feels that the Presidential Award is for her. Got late.

“Many of my juniors have already been given awards. But this is my understanding that the Presidential Award is not given for the most years spent in the industry but for the best performance. Although I got the award late, I got it for quality work.’

Bushra Farrukh claims that she is the first Hinduko woman drama artist of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to receive the Presidential Award.

Bushra Farrukh has shown the essence of her talent in Hindiko, Urdu and Pashto. He wrote 15 books, including seven poetry collections, poetry and a travelogue.

“When I started in 1971, PTV Islamabad used to be in Chaklala. At that time, a time of one hour was fixed every day for the border province under the name of ‘Aghoosh Kohistan’. The artists of NWFP then used to go to Chaklala for recording. However, when Pakistan Television started in 1974 on Fort Road in Peshawar. I was selected as the first announcer out of about 40 people.’

Bushra Farrukh with drama artist Habib Mehtab at a Radio Pakistan program (Photo courtesy of Bushra Farrukh).

Bushra Farrukh told Independent Urdu that when she started working as an artist, working in PTV and Radio Pakistan was considered an insult.

‘This was the reason why my neighbors and relatives did a social boycott of us. My mother came under the pressure of this situation but my father, Sheikh Sultan Muhammad, supported me continuously. After marriage, husband Farrukh Seer continued to support me and that is why I am at a position today where educational institutes, women’s seminars or conferences invite me as a role model. Now even if there are distant relatives, people call me their close relative.’

Bushra Farrukh said that she has four daughters, however, she does not have the desire to go towards performing arts like her mother.

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Bushra Farrukh expressed her impressions regarding the drama industry and said that when she was not in this field, she used to hear that good girls do not go into this field.

‘I used to say that there are good and bad people everywhere. He kept up with his work, which was also acknowledged by the people in the industry. But today, despite the age of more than 60 years, I am still walking on the bridge. I saw in the outside world that if a little step is taken from here to there, people forget all the good qualities of a woman and make her bad.’

Bushra Farrukh is mainly related to Karimpora area of ​​Peshawar. She was married to Farrukh Seer, a prominent producer of Pakistan Television Peshawar Centre. Farrukh Seer died in 1997.

Bushra Farrukh has been to India three times in different conferences of SAARC where she conveyed the message of goodwill on behalf of Pakistan. He was nominated for Presidential Award by Pakistan Academy of Literature and Pakistan Television Peshawar Centre.