Veteran Pakistani columnist Cowasjee passes away at 86
“I am 86 now, too old to pen weekly columns. Besides what’s there to write about with the same old politics and same old politicians. Do you really believe that they will go away? —Dawn.com Photo
KARACHI: One of Pakistan’s oldest and most renowned columnists, Ardeshir Cowasjee, passed away in Karachi on Saturday at the age of 86.
Cowasjee, whose weekly columns graced the Dawn newspaper from 1988 to 2011, was suffering from chest illness and had been admitted in a Karachi hospital’s intensive care unit for the past 12 days.
Born on April 13, 1926 to Rustom Faqir Cowasjee and Mucca Rustomjee, Ardeshir joined the family shipping business after completing his education from the Bai Virbaiji Soparivala Parsi (BVS) High School and DJ Sindh Govt Science College.
He had two children with wife Nancy Dinshaw. His daughter lives in Karachi and works in the family business and his son is an architect in the US. Their mother passed away in 1992.
“Now, old at 85, tired, and disillusioned with a country that just cannot pull itself together in any way and get on with life in this day and age, I have decided to call it a day,” he wrote in a column in December 2011 for Dawn.
He went on to write two more columns that year before he finally put his pen to rest.
More than just a columnist
Cowasjee was known for his outspoken criticism of politicians and the religious right.
“I am 86 now, too old to pen weekly columns. Besides what’s there to write about with the same old politics and same old politicians. Do you really believe that they will go away? I am bored writing about them again and again,” he said in an interview last month.
“Ardeshir Cowasjee is more than just a columnist for a Pakistani newspaper. He has become the conscience of a nation,” wrote Nirupuma Subramanian in the Hindu.
“I don’t do it for the money,” the LA Times quoted him in a 2008 interview. “What they pay me wouldn’t even buy this tie. It’s an exercise of the mind. I do it to be sane. Because nothing works with logic in this place.”
In addition to his columns, Cowasjee was also known as a successful businessman, social activist, and an active philanthropist.
“Mr Cowasjee donated heavily to charities – TCF school in Lyari bears witness to that,” said journalist Omar Quraishi in a tweet Saturday after Cowasjee’s death.
His charitable organisation, the Cowasjee Foundation, was responsible for providing funding for higher education to many Pakistani students. Many of Karachi’s hospitals such as the Lady Dufferin Hospital, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation and the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases have also benefited from the foundation.
“Very few people know Ardeshir Cowasjee quietly tried to support upright, young journos financially,” said Abbas Nasir, a former Dawn editor.
Many leading names in Pakistan’s journalism circles looked up to the columnist.
“Amazing teacher. Worked on many stories with him in my early days in journalism,” said Azhar Abbas, who now heads a leading Pakistani news channel.
“Sad to hear that one of Pakistan’s finest & most conscientious columnists, Ardeshir Cowasjee, has passed away,” said columnist Nadeem F. Paracha in a tweet sent out Saturday. “May his soul rest in peace.”
I have been in corespondence with him for many years and on many topics and always found his advice so apt and valuable. Will miss you immnesely, Ardeshir . . .
He worked tiredlessly with head, heart and hand and challenged endlessly to corrupt and polluted minds. The legacy left behind by Mr Cowasjee will bear his name for generations to come. May Allah give him rewards for his good work and deeds. RIP
God bless him. A great soul. RIP
Cowasjee was a personal friend. I lost him. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. May his soul rest in peace. He was bold and honest. Courage and honesty go hand in hand.
Sad loss for the country at large and Sindh in particular.He was one of the last remnants of people who has seen the beautiful life of Karachi-peaceful, tolerant and cohesive without the present prejudice and facionalism which is intent on killing and maiming Karachi to submission and eventual destruction of this most important city for Sindh and Pakistan. He did not bow to any Dictator or Autocrat including Z A Bhutto who put him in prison for his bravery to say no to his demands. Today our country is bereft of sanity and reason. He will be remembered for his social campaigns for saving parks of Karachi including Gutter Baghicha from land mafia. He challenged the country to return to the principles for which it was created by another son of Sindh Mohammed Ali Jinnah.
Pakistan has lost most eloquent fighter for the rights of ordinary citizens who endured wrath of establishment and its created parties. May God rest him in Peace.
A great loss to humanity and Pakistan. A very brave man who always stood for the rights of oppressed humans, especially, the poor Pakistanis. May his soul rest in peace. May Allah Taala grant patience and steadfastness to his family to bear this irreparable loss. Amin.
Mr Cowasjee was an institution. He will be sorely missed. It is a sad day for Pakistan, having lost one of its genuine well wisher’s. My hope and prayer is that younger Pakistanis, take on the initiatives that he started. We need many Cowasjees, to lead and initiate social reform, in a beautiful country inhabited by simple, hospitable people, A nation that has now gone to the dogs, due to the actions of a few unscrupulous individuals.
One of the best columnist that were there in PK
Karachi’s grand old man has passed away. May he rest in peace. His loss to this city is irrecoverable.
Man with character, integrity and guts. We’ll always remember you.
He belonged to a rare breed of columnist who are so well read and well informed that their analysis of events are seconded by well established research and facts. Being an Indian who reads Indian news media I notice how rapidly its sliding downhill. On the other hand I discovered Ardeshir quite late and have tried to google his articles since they are all priceless in terms of content. I have a suggestion for Dawn and the many readers who are Ardeshir’s fans. Please pull out all his columns ever written and publish them as a book. We in this continent never realize the many fantastic people we have in our midst until we lose them. That loss is multiplied when besides losing them we lose their work and thoughts.
Irreplaceable loss of a great son of the soil, a true patriot, champion of human rights and social order. We must preserve all his writings for the future generations. Totally agree with the comments posted by Da’Greek.
God Bless him
Amen!
What an irreplaceable soul. Done his bit gracefully. RIP.
Your writings were true and honest. Your words were inspiring. Your just voice will be missed in what has become an intolerant and unjust land. May your soul rest in peace (amen)
One of the most upright and conscientious columnist I know,a multifaceted person with genuin interest in charities.
You were a true Karachiite and a genuine well wisher of this country, RIP Cowasjee Sahib.
One of the most fearless and honest to goodness people that I have met in my life. It was a miracle that in a city where the land mafia thrives and everyone is fair game, people tolerated his views. I have seen him in his outbursts with top MQM, PPP and other people, but they, out of respect let him say whatever he wanted to.
Deeply grieved to hear this news. A national Loss. RIP Mr. Cowasjee.
May his soul rest in peace.
You had a good run in this life Cowasjee, hope u will enjoy eternity with same peace and passion too.
What a great loss to the journalistic community of South Asia. Ardeshir enlightened many readers and tirelessly championed human rights for his countrymen and woman. May he rest in Peace. I will miss him dearly
A pillar of Pakistan is gone leaving behind lots of memories and funds for the poor. God bless you Mr.Cowasjee. You set up a pathway that is hard to follow by the current generation but as the saying goes: people like you are born ahead of time and are admired by forthcoming generations.
RIP Ardeshir Cowasjee. The world has lost a sincere, impartial journalist in him. Cowasjee was the reason I started reading Dawn. His views made lots of sense, pointing out historical facts, the current state of affairs and lessons to be learned. He wrote for the betterment of society. A very good man.
Will miss him.
pakistan will miss people like you. RIP
May his soul rest in peace.. Another great loss to Pakistan