ARDESHIR Cowasjee will be remembered as a role model by all those who believe in diversity and pluralism. He upheld fundamental values as a basic and undeniable logic of nature’s existence, and continued the struggle against a hostile atmosphere prevailing around him.

Cowasjee’s defiance in an era of comprises and deals gave strength to many who challenge the power echelons. He neither bowed nor resigned to the status quo.

Regular readers of his columns know the impeccable precision with which he used to relate data with facts while drawing conclusion. The concluding paragraphs of his articles always carried a message too tough but so convincing that often being quoted to make a case for the weak and vulnerable.

We need ‘whistle blowers’ like Cowasjee in every field: in schools, in newspapers, in politics and in social circles. The legacy Cowasjee represented needs to be honoured, for the reason it espouses the values of diversity, integrity and self-esteem of the individual. We, the common people, love these values as they negate the evil of ‘absolutism’.

ALLAH NAWAZ SAMOO
Nagarparkar

Painful memories
WE both went to the same school, the BVS Parsi High School and, nonetheless, he went to DJ Science College with my father A. Sattar Mustikhan.

Their lovely dream had become a nightmare for them to see the killings, corruption and lawlessness that were unthought of during the golden days that they lived and cherished in friendship and respect to see the birth of Pakistan happen. We may be in a state of self-denial, but facts are facts and must be accepted.

I can literally feel the feelings of Cowasjee as it was the same feeling of his classmate, i.e my father, during his days when his condition deteriorated due to his ailment.

Although in pain and agony, it seemed that for him or as a matter of fact for his generation to see what Pakistan had become and what was expected was more painful to him than that caused to him by his disease.

ABID S. MUSTIKHAN
Karachi

Two illustrious people
Cowasjee breathed his last at the age of 86 in Karachi before Ashura. Iqbal Haider, an illustrious son of Karachi, also called it a day a few weeks ago.
Seen retrospectively, an Islamabad-based darvesh had predicted not long ago that a respectable personality will fade out of the national scene. It is sad that not one but two national personalities have left us in quick succession. Both of them belonged to Karachi, but in a way they were national figures.
Cowasjee was a remarkable individual in professional as well as in personal life. Haider was a tireless worker in the domain of human rights and liberties. Fans will miss them.
Another important prediction of the darvesh is that a lady will rule the country for a long time.
ASGHAR MAHMOOD          Islamabad

Prolific writer
I MISSED Cowasjee’s column when he stopped writing. He was right to do so.
He wrote: “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.”
May his soul rest in peace.
KHIZIR FAROOQI                  Karachi