During one of my story-building workshops in a public school in Larkana, in which I was tasked to help Grade 9 and 10 girls write stories about their educational journey, I asked the students what was the most important thing they had learned from the four-day activity. One of the girls replied: You taught us to think about our existence! Introspection, the process of examining ones thoughts, feelings and mental processes is a rare luxury that can seem out of reach when one is buffeted by difficulties and harsh circumstances, as was the case with most of the students in the classroom. For some, it was difficult even to focus on the lessons, because they kept feverishly wondering whether or not there would be any food for them when they returned home. And yet, they found the ability to introspect transformative even if it couldn’t change the course of their lives in the present in the power it gave them to reflect upon and take stock of their existence.

I recently thought of it again while reading the engrossing Seat 1C, a survivor`s account penned by Zafar Masud with research by Syeda Amna Hassan, about the ill-fated PIA flight 8303 whose crash in 2020 claimed 98 lives. Zafar Masud was one of the only two survivors of that crash. During the long recovery period, he started piecing together what he had lived through in the short period of time between the time he realised that something was wrong with the plane and the crash, what happened in the immediate aftermath, and what he felt were the lessons to be learned from the tragedy.

There are many ways of looking at this book. It could be read as the struggle of a mortal frame against severe physical challenges, as Masud struggled to get back on his feet. He had burnt his back, broken his right arm and torn the ligaments of his left knee. Five years later, he is still dealing with the effects of those injuries, as he carries on his professional duties as the head of a large public institution.

It could be read as a tale about finding faith in the humanity and goodness of people around us, as Masud experiences first hand and recounts with great feeling, from the rescuers to the common man in the street. It could be read as a commentary on the attitudes prevailing in our society. Masud describes in detail everything that went wrong with the flight and which could have been averted, and the high-handed disregard for protocol and guidelines that led to more PIA crashes.

And it could also be read, at a higher level, as the story of one man`s resilience and determination to return to life with greater purpose, and do all the things aligned with it, whether in a personal, professional or public domain.

Masud writes: This is, quite obviously, a direct result of coming face to face with death. I do not need to overanalyse this need it is enough that it propels me forward. The crash forced home the ephemeral nature of this life in a way that words and philosophising could not. I now know that I am living on borrowed time…

No one can understand the frailty of the body, skin and bone like a plane crash survivor. My body has been through the ringer. I am compelled to treat the life I have left as a borrowed heaven. When you feel as though every breath is leased, and your experiences force you to constantly wonder at how fleeing life is, you inevitably develop a sense of urgency to build something good, and a preoccupation with your legacy.

I realised that life and meaningful work are inseparable. As a reader, more than anything else, the book is about the process of introspection, and how it gives one if one does the exercise sincerely a rare strength to accomplish what one seeks.

It is the same introspective urge that inspires the narrative, as Masud names values that must guide our lives. He mentions that many philosophers concur that sincerity is perfectly compatible with people keeping secrets, withholding information or, more broadly, being entitled to privacy.

He encourages everyone to searchfor the cause that lights their passion, and spend time bringing about the change they seek in the world creating their own legacies now, not when they`re established or everything is just perfect, but in the present moment, to whatever degree is possible.

It is something that Masud set out to do with the resources he had, in his own sphere of influence, taking decisions that reflected integrity not only on the part of the institution he leads, but also on part of the people and the nation the institution represents.

Masud stresses the need for effective communication, and desires to reintroduce communication, literature and philosophy to all university students, regardless of their discipline.

He upholds the importance of literature and art in the betterment of society and believes that the humanities can help men of affairs think more clearly and creatively. As part of his legacy, he states a desire to inculcate an appreciation of art and literature in the young men and women making their way into nonliterary fields. This is an important area because, with an increased focus on STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] to power the digital economy, we are forgetting that the ability to appreciate literature and arts is one of the rewards of life.

Seat 1C has a large canvas for a slim book and it approaches the gift of life with seriousness and sincerity. It reminded me of The Theory of Everything (2014), a biopic about physicist Stephen Hawking`s life, struggle with disease and achievements, which both inspires and gives hope. It is good news that its Urdu translation will be out soon, and this important book will find many more readers.

The columnist is a novelist, author and translator. He can be reached via his website: micromaf.com

Published in Dawn e-Paper on November 9, 2025 | By Musharraf Ali Farooqi