Obaidullah Baig

Obaidullah Baig was a scholar, Urdu writer, and documentary filmmaker from Karachi, Sindh. He worked as a columnist and media expert throughout his professional life.

Early life and education

Baig was born in Rampur, British India, on 1 October 1936. Following the independence of Pakistan in 1947, he migrated to Karachi with his family during the early 1950s. He settled in Karachi to begin his life in the new nation. Baig did not pursue formal education beyond his intermediate college.

Career

Before he entered television production, Baig held several diverse roles in media. He worked as an associate editor for ASHUJA Magazine and served as a translator or announcer for external services at Radio Pakistan. He also functioned as an assistant editor for the Daily HURRIYAT newspaper and directed copywriting at ASIATIC Advertising.

Aslam Azhar, a pioneering personality in Pakistani television, helped Baig and introduced him to the public. Baig is best known for the intellectually stimulating quiz show Kasauti, which premiered in 1967. He teamed up with Iftikhar Arif for the program in the 1970s. Later, he worked alongside Ghazi Salahuddin during the 1990s.

The show Kasauti consisted of 20 questions that Baig and his co-panelists asked host Quresh Pur. These questions focused on literature, history, and current affairs to identify a specific person or object. Because the show aired before the invention of search engines, a major Pakistani newspaper called him "Pakistan's Google personified."

During a career spanning 48 years, Baig produced over 300 documentary films. He studied the history of Central Asia and the flora and fauna of Pakistan. His acclaimed works include Wildlife in Sindh, Lakes of Sindh, Game Warden, and Life in Stone. He also produced the TV series Sailani Ke Saath, which aired on Pakistani television for nearly 3 years during the 1970s.

Baig championed environmental causes through his professional work. He served as the Director of the National and Regional Languages Cell at the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources for 6 years. During this period, he established Jareeda, which was Pakistan's first Urdu language magazine focused on environmental issues.

Personal life

Baig was married to Salma Baig, who worked as a show host and announcer for Pakistan Television. He lived in Karachi until his death on 22 June 2012 at age 75. After he passed away, the poet Iftikhar Arif described him as an elder brother and a source of inspiration.

A major Pakistani newspaper described him as a man with precise speech and an amiable smile. Many people in Pakistan referred to him as "a living encyclopedia."

Awards and recognition

In 2009, the President of Pakistan presented Baig with the Pride of Performance Award for his services to the Pakistani media. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pakistan Television Corporation.