Friends remember Cowasjee

Sara Faruqi | Zehra Naqvi Published November 29, 2012

“A great loss,” is how M.A. Majid, the man who edited Ardeshir Cowasjee’s columns for decades, summed up the columnist’s death. Cowasjee passed away at the age of 86 after fighting against the evils that plague the city of his birth Karachi. Here, his friends and former editors remember the man, the writer and the philanthropist.

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“A serious loss,” is how M.A. Majid, the man who edited Ardeshir Cowasjee’s columns for decades, summed up the columnist’s death. Cowasjee passed away at the age of 86 after fighting against the evils that plague the city of his birth Karachi. Here, his friends and former editors remember the man, the writer and the philanthropist.

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Manvinder

Dec 01, 2012 10:42am

Salute to the Hero of Karachi ! No words to explain the loss this subcontinent suffered !

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Burjor

Dec 01, 2012 10:44am

Following his example, is perhaps the best way to remember him.

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HADI SAKEY

Nov 30, 2012 12:24am

I am a fan of Cowasjee for the last thirty years. His writing, his flow and style combined together makes a very indepth study of Karachi viz-a-vis Pakistan. May his sould rest at peace.

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syed.bell@gmail.com

Nov 30, 2012 12:53am

Great Loss - I am going to miss him .

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Nov 30, 2012 01:29am

Beautiful tribute I have ever read!! Jio Irfan Bhai!!

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Sajid

Nov 30, 2012 07:28am

"Saala jo qoum gutter ka dhakkan nahee bana sakti wo atom kya banaay ga" RIP

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Hachikota Mara

Nov 30, 2012 11:16am

Saala!!! All you English speaking fools!!! How is Urdu press treating this event? How does Cowasjee matter to the person on the street or villages? No doubt Cowasjee was genuine but only mattered to a few. When Gandhi returned to India from SA, he noticed that Congress was just a club of educated English speaking elite individual and the common man did not identified with these individuals. Independence would just mean replacing British master with Indian elite masters. Gandhi called the educated youth to go to villages talk to people live and eat with them that is the only way to ignite the spark of nationalism. Take a hint Pakistani brother.

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Minaal

Nov 29, 2012 08:38pm

A true Karachiite, brilliant writer and soul of the provincial capital. He showed the powers that be the mirror in the most difficult of times, under military dictators as well as Civilian rule. He was the most recognized of all Dawn's writers with a faithful readership. A learned man who represented the Karachi as it once was when there were Hindus and Parsis living alongside Muslims in peace... Now Muslims are killing Muslims and have become the laughing stock of the subcontinent.

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Asim Rao

Nov 30, 2012 08:42am

people like him are becoming a rarity in our beloved country (Pakistan) - with him gone - there is one less Great Man of Pakistan. The Nation will miss you Cowasjee - this is from the bottom of my heart..

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Syed Murtaza

Nov 29, 2012 09:27pm

He was a truthful man.i have learned so much about many great people after reading his columns,like princess Abida Sultan.He was a man who correctly told the nation especially young generation that how we have been deprived and who did it and who has been doing it.youth of Pakistan has lost a source of correct information.SAD SO SAD

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Irfan Jafri

Dec 02, 2012 09:00am

The Lone crusader is gone. History has moved on.

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kamaljit Singh

Nov 29, 2012 06:06pm

It is/was Cowasjee that I addicted to Dawn about 10 years ago.I find him the only true patriotic . I wish if he were an Indian.

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Vittal Pyati

Nov 29, 2012 06:43pm

I always enjoyed reading Cowasjee's columns. May his soul rest in peace. No one like him in the entire sub-continent. If he had moved to the US he would be working for NY Times and making millions of $.

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NASAH (USA)

Nov 30, 2012 03:47am

That dog in Cowasjee's lap is a highly prized breed called Jack Russell -- very intelligent very expensive. The columnist had very good tastes in every sphere of life and literature - except in dressing. He will be sorely missed.

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Haroon Khawaja

Nov 30, 2012 03:07am

A great friend, great inspiration ... a true believer of the "Pakistan of Jinnah". He never minced his words, always stood up for the truth and fought against "tumult and oppression" throughout his life. May God Almighty bless his soul.

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Waheed

Nov 30, 2012 02:59am

My your soul rest in peace, Mall Allah grant him the highest post in Heavens, may Allah grant his family with comfort in this sad time, Cowasjee is the the greatest lost for the whole Humanity. May your thoughts and prayers for Pakistan and for the Nations come true. Ameen

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Nev

Nov 30, 2012 02:51am

The Lion is dead. Now only the hyenas remain.

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Nasr KiKi

Nov 30, 2012 02:32am

Tremendously huge loss, the most untamed vocal voice of Karachi is dead. I have admired him since he started raising his voice against rampant unauthorized construction of buildings in Karachi. A very early such case was the incomplete building in one of the fronts of theTeen Talwar, roundabout and was still as it is on my last visit in 2008. He was also a close family friend of my in-laws and was regular in the weekly sittings of his very senior friends.He Nasr from US

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Huma

Nov 29, 2012 06:33pm

He was very generous with his time. RIP

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Danyal Khan

Nov 30, 2012 07:45am

RIP sir, May your vision for Pakistan come true some fine day, Amen

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Agha Ata

Nov 30, 2012 02:36pm

All these praises will be buried in archives. Let's give him something that will remind every one of him, even to those who are not born yet. Change the name of CLIFTON and call it COWASJEE, where he lived and died and which was developed and made into beautiful pink terraces and gardens by the members of his community.

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Farhan

Nov 30, 2012 02:46pm

Sindh didn't lose a big man, Pakistan lost a big man. We have to think outside your our own regional territories.

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Babur

Nov 29, 2012 05:40pm

Cross generational loss. I have never seen Karachiites so collectively mourn one of our own.

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Imran

Nov 30, 2012 04:47pm

Name Clifton to Cowasjee. Like * billion

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Shahab Zafar

Nov 30, 2012 07:55am

A beautifully done documentary on Ardeshir Cowasjee. Although the man deserves a full-length narration depicting his personality, and works. Nevertheless, this 'short and sweet' footage, within few hours after his demise is in fact a great tribute. Well done Dawn.com.

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Usama Hameed

Nov 29, 2012 05:03pm

About two months ago, I wrote an email to Cowasjee requesting to have a cup of tea with him. Guess, I was just not that lucky.

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SHAFIQUE RAHIB KHAN

Nov 29, 2012 04:45pm

Cowasji was a brave, bold and true patriotic Pakistani. He always called a spade spade. That's why a lot of people including me liked him and so many disliked. (SHAFIQUE RAHIB KHAN, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)

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Showzib Rizvi

Nov 29, 2012 04:43pm

Cowasjee was a great patriot and he was a true lover of Karachi. I would say he saw Karachi cherishing and nurturing with his eyes. He highlighted all the good and bad of the city. I have red alot about him because I consider him as my English Teacher. He played very vital role in the silent politics of Pakistan. He suffered from so many issues in his life during his stay in Karachi. but remained calm for the betterment of city. Finally I would say he was the Icon of the city of Lights. May his soul rest in peace and the lack of such and eminent scholar will not be filled immediately.

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saad

Nov 29, 2012 04:42pm

I once wrote a blistering reply to Cowasjee against one of his articles and must admit he handled it very bravely. Rest in peace old man.

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Arshad

Dec 01, 2012 12:54pm

A lone but loud voice of Jinnah's secular Pakistan.

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majid maqsood

Nov 30, 2012 10:08am

Great and brave man...........Sindh has lost big man........its irreparable loss really........

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Irfan

Nov 29, 2012 04:17pm

A medal would be more appropriate. Clifton was a great man too, so lets not take away something from him.

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mehmood h. bhanji

Nov 29, 2012 03:34pm

wow cowasjee is one of the reason I am stilll a Pakistani in heart sould and mind and proud in a very humble way

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Irfan

Nov 29, 2012 03:15pm

I would be willing to die today if people would say such nice things about me

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Agha Ata

Nov 29, 2012 02:43pm

He deserved a statue. But we can at least give him the honor of a place called after his name, like ?CLIFTON? changed to ?COWSJEE? where he lived and died, and the members of his community developed those beautiful pink terraces and gardens!

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Omar

Dec 01, 2012 12:26am

Be careful,the current crop may rename it to benazirabad or zardarinagree.

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Taimur A. Khan

Dec 01, 2012 01:29am

With Cowasjee's death, the most fearless defender of the glorious heritage of Karachi has gone! We shall never have the like of him, who could be termed" A man who never minced his words,Sala". May the God he believed in bless his soul"!!

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ashrafm5

Dec 03, 2012 12:19am

He was the reason I read Dawn

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himidik

Dec 01, 2012 01:48pm

HIS WRITINGS WITHOUT FEAR OR FRIGHT - A BRAVE MAN HARDLY SEEN IN THIS COUNTRY.

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Ibrahim

Nov 30, 2012 01:30am

We are poorer by losing Mr Cowasjee. He stood for all that was fair and just. A tolerant voice in intolerant times. Let us pay tribute to a kindered spirit, A man with sterling qualities of the heart and soul. His legacy is the good work that he did. We can all emulate him in some manner.

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Nasim Zaidi CALIFORNIA

Nov 30, 2012 01:19am

Very well said ,His body should be wrapped in pakistani flag,very honourable and honest PAKISTANI ,RIP Sir.

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