I WAS saddened to learn of Athar Shah Khan’s death. A thorough gentleman, he was a popular playright, actor, producer, director and all the more an enviable friend.

I had known Mr Jaidi since 1964, when I was a medical student at the Dow Medical College (now university), Karachi. He presented his first play ‘Baray Sahib’ at the college’s annual function and I was selected for a role in his play. The play was fully enjoyed by the students, teachers and their families. Some of our fellow students from Lahore (Ravians) suggested that we should stage this play at Government College, Lahore (now university).

Soon after the 1965 war, after finishing our examination, we requested the principal of GC Lahore to stage the play at the open air theatre, and the people of Lahore really enjoyed this play.

Thereafter Athar Shah Khan wrote many plays for PTV’s Lahore centre that were eagerly seen by Pakistani and Indian viewers every week as PTV Lahore’s transmission could be watched in Amritsar and surrounding areas. His plays receive many awards and were shown in many countries.

Athar was a great exponent of art and culture and a very down-to-earth person, and I remember his family home in Nazimabad. In short, he was completely an embodiment of simplicity.

As a tribute to a great artist and an even greater human being I request that his plays be telecast by PTV and other TV channels. This will provide viewers a chance to smile in these dark days of lockdown.

Prof Dr Yasin Durrani
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2020