A life lived in full – Ardeshir Cowasjee (1926-2012)
Published in Jan-Feb 2013
Irfan Husain
Refreshingly irreverent, Ardeshir Cowasjee would regularly needle bureaucrats and politicians alike.
Refreshingly irreverent, and with nothing to gain from pleasing those in power, he was wonderful at deflating those with an inflated sense of their own importance.
I last saw Ardeshir Cowasjee a few months ago when I heard that his health was failing. He was, as usual, surrounded by his pack of beloved Jack Russell terriers and throughout my visit, he held my hands: although he wasn't as cogent as he normally was, he was his old affectionate self.
While we often disagreed with each other's views, we respected the other's right to hold them. Ardeshir was a bitter foe of the Bhuttos, a vendetta that dated back to the nationalisation of his family's shipping company and his arrest by his old friend Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in the mid-70s. But then Ardeshir was caustic about other politicians, too. After stepping on one toe too many, the Sindh government provided him with a permanent police guard.
But the people who were most in his sights were Karachi's notorious land mafia. Criminals and politicians alike (and the line between them is often blurred in Pakistan) felt the bite of his verbal lash in his weekly columns. For years, he struggled, through the courts and the press, to slow down the steady deterioration of his city's landscape. Builders and qabza groups were often tied up in class action lawsuits initiated by Ardeshir and his lawyer friends. He was a major supporter of Shehri, the NGO established in the early 90s to stop illegal high-rise construction. When my brother Navaid, one of Shehri's founding members, was shot in his office in 1997, Ardeshir shared our vigil at the hospital as Navaid fought for his life. The attack showed Ardeshir how dangerous the land mafia could be.
Ardeshir was always a flamboyant, larger than life figure. Impeccably dressed, he enjoyed the good things in life. From his art collection to his sports cars, he spent his wealth with style and taste. There are far richer people than him in Pakistan, but none have his flair. Whenever he came to my place, he would sit and chat with my mother who loved his good humour and Gujrati accent. I doubt he ever began a sentence not prefaced with "Aray, sala!"
I suspect he was able to get so much dirt on the rich and the powerful because he loved to entertain and many of his visitors were more than happy to provide him with information and documents about the many scams he wrote about. Over the years, Ardeshir acquired a loyal following of readers across the world. Like me, he would argue against editorial cuts at DAWN, and would enter into long debates over the use of the blue pencil.
Born into a wealthy Parsi family, he imbibed a strong streak of philanthropy that is the community's abiding legacy to the Subcontinent. His Cowasjee Foundation funded many students as well as institutions. Quietly and without fanfare, his generosity touched many lives: in this, he acted contrary to his normally extroverted persona.
No article about Ardeshir would be complete without a mention of Amina Jilani, his long-term associate and close friend. Amina brought order to a bachelor home: after his wife Nancy died many years ago, Ardeshir never remarried and Amina organised the practical details of running the household as well as the columnist's social activities. In addition, Amina has her own weekly column in The Nation.
One of the things Ardeshir and I had in common was a love of dogs. A few years ago, I mentioned our Jack Russell terrier, Puffin, in a column. Amina immediately sent me a photo of Ardeshir sprawling in bed with at least four Jack Russells around him. Whenever I went over, they would swarm around me to investigate before they returned to their beloved master. He also had a loud cockatoo who squawked whenever a visitor appeared.
Another thing we shared was a deeply ingrained belief in secularism. He constantly referred to Jinnah's famous August 11, 1947 speech in his column to strengthen his argument that Pakistan was created as a secular state. Both of us opposed the unending drift towards religious intolerance that has plagued Pakistan for decades. For Ardeshir, the rising extremism was a direct threat to everything he had grown up with and all the values he held dear.
Although we often disagreed over politics, Ardeshir was occasionally intrigued when I wrote about subjects other than the usual punditry. Once, I explored the philosophical foundations of anarchism, and got a call from him: "Aray, sala, yey tum nay aaj kya likha?"
Although supportive of General Musharraf for his veneer of secularism in the dictator's early stint in power, Ardeshir became disillusioned as time went on and Musharraf did nothing to keep his promise to rein in the extremists. Indeed, with his advancing years, he became increasingly depressed about the idea of Pakistan, losing hope that it would ever recover from its self-inflicted wounds.
Refreshingly irreverent, and with nothing to gain from pleasing those in power, he was wonderful at deflating those with an inflated sense of their own importance. In his columns and in his personal interactions, he would regularly needle bureaucrats and politicians alike. And because he asked for no favours, they feared him for his honesty and his outspoken opinions. When he died, many of them turned out to pay a respect they probably did not feel in his lifetime. But far more importantly, tens of thousands of his regular readers and admirers will miss his acerbic columns.
Irfan Husain is a regular contributor to DAWN's op-ed pages and the author of Fatal Faultlines – Pakistan, Islam and the West.
irfan.husain@gmail.com
Celebrating Independence – the DAWN way
Wisdom, laughter and fond memories to last a lifetime
AmK Nov 24, 2017 01:12pm
A truly genuine soul. RIP . Mr Cowasjee. I surly miss your wisdom .
Kaspar Nov 24, 2017 02:36pm
There have been very few like him -- fearless, bold, honest and unafraid to criticize the shenanigans of those in power -- in this country. Since he died, things have further deteriorated, as far as corruption of those in power, religious intolerance and the stranglehold of the land mafias, builder mafias and negligence of the public interest by public office holders is concerned. The downward slide of governance is conspicuously present.
F. Shah Nov 24, 2017 05:29pm
He was indeed a unique individual who wrote fearlessly and with great sincerity and truthfulness. I still miss not seeing his column in the newspaper.
Exlim Nov 24, 2017 06:52pm
I will miss his civic contributions to Karachi and fearless commentary on Pakistani politics.
Zulekha Soorma Nov 24, 2017 06:56pm
I waited for Mr. Cowasjee's columns in dawn and loved reading them. I would send him e mails with my comments on his column and I would always receive an acknowledgement e mail from him. I am sure he would be depressed to see the state of affairs of the country now. May his soul rest in peace.
Siri Nov 24, 2017 07:24pm
He had the money and position to do so and he used every bit of it in talking to the power.
Dr Ibrahim Nov 24, 2017 07:25pm
Mr Cowasjee was a good man!
Khurram jadoon Nov 24, 2017 08:23pm
A great man and fearless writer - RIP. Out of his busy schedule, he was still able to response to one my email to clarify my concerns - an outspoken soul.
Attorney Tausif Kamal Nov 24, 2017 09:00pm
Well said, Irfan. Indomitable, full of courage and spine, brilliant and unique in expression, a die hard believer in the original idea of a modern Pakistan state -Cowasjee's star alone shone brightest in the firmament of Pak writers. Will be missed by this country for a long time to come.
surinder singh kade Nov 24, 2017 09:07pm
i always looked forward to reading his articles in the dawn. miss his articles
Mansoor Nov 24, 2017 09:47pm
The reason I started reading Dawn.
Azhar Nov 24, 2017 10:23pm
Mr.Ardeshir Cowasjee , a larger than life figure. An Admiral of ethics and a sea wise giant. I am very lucky that I had chances in my life to shake hand with this great man and a photograph with him on my passing out prade is a precious memorabilia. Just before partition quaid-i-Adam asked Mr.Rustom cowasjee, the only shipping man in pakistanto assist in formation of Pakistan merchant fleet. Word "cowasjee"is well renowned in terms of our heritage and pride. We as a nation owe him particularly and to parsi community generally, a great debt of gratitude. RIP SIR.
Sja ja Nov 24, 2017 11:01pm
@Zulekha Soorma : yes he always replied to my emails also when I commented on his columns. Tolerance and sharing two important elements missing in our political scene---were his important traits. Good always do good and endure and leave good memories.
tochibawa Nov 24, 2017 11:41pm
@Mansoor Exactly my thoughts.
Faiz Kazmi Nov 25, 2017 12:12am
Love you sir
Honesty Nov 25, 2017 12:58am
@Sja ja Actually Amina Jillani used to reply emails on his behalf.
Bki Nov 25, 2017 02:23am
Mr. Cowasjee was a formidable personality. I like many of my generation grew up reading his articles and saw in him and his articles wealth of knowledge and pearls of wisdom to live our lives. I sent him a few emails about his articles, but only once I asked him advice when I need it the most. His quick response at that time changed the rest of my life for the better. Thank you Sir! Mr. Cowasjee, we miss you and I must also thank Dawn for sharing him with us for so many years. Respect BKI
Desi Nov 25, 2017 04:26am
@ Azhar great write up
Undoubtedly we are losing the greats & left with the likes of Panama
Khan Nov 25, 2017 04:50am
What a lovely man he was! Met him with my wife at his bath island residence and he wrote a special note to us :" Love life"
Salah anHmad Nov 25, 2017 05:32am
Doubtless Ardsher was admired for his refreshingly bold , witty and brutally honest columns. He is being sorely missed . Salah Ahmad
His admirers , who were as numerous as the readers of your popular daily, miss his witticism, wry humor , subtle sarcasm and fearless criticism.
Every time I record a comment you accuse me of lack of moderation, Yet many comments that appear in this column are nowhere near moderation.
Riasat Ali Nov 25, 2017 05:59am
My respects to you Mr Cowasjee! I still treasure your emails!
Syed Husain Nov 25, 2017 07:02am
Mr Cowasje was a wise man and his articles were refreshing since they written with utmost honesty and with a lot of foresight. Sir, you are truly missed! RIP!
Khalid Ahemef Nov 25, 2017 07:37am
A man, never prounce himself Parsi but Pakistani in true sense of term, he was no cynical to the distressing situations surrounded to our fabric. He stuck straight called spade a spade . May our love reach to his soul and blessings that smiles on his wisdom that stays with us. RIP a great honourable man
MAK Nov 25, 2017 10:05am
Honestly speaking, DAWN was a mediocre newspaper with a bunch of repetitive news and idiotic commercial pages except for AC's column. He hit the nail on the head and I bet ruffled a lot of feathers.
DR,AW Nov 25, 2017 10:21am
@Attorney Tausif Kamal ..Beautifully said Kamal Saheb, great words indeed...
Tayyub IBRAHIM Nov 25, 2017 01:05pm
There should be an award for bravery in journalism named after him. He is the greatest pakistani journalist of all time.
Didar Ali Nov 25, 2017 02:14pm
There are still some pure people like Mr. Cowasjee live in this country, because of them, the life goes on, otherwise, long ago the life would have wiped off this land and everything turned into ashes. So we have hope and we need to find these sources of life and nurture them, respect and save them from the merchant of death and destruction.
amin DAHA Nov 25, 2017 04:19pm
I still miss him and his writings which myself and my father would read.
HUMAIRA RAHMAN Nov 26, 2017 11:32am
Hello Irfan: There are some inaccuracies in your article. Shehri-CBE was founded by one person , me, Humaira Rahman in September 1988. Zain Shaikh, Qaiser Bengali, Qazi Faez Isa, Khalid Nadvi , Kausar Bashir Ahmad and Navaid Husain were all invited by me to join , and thus became part of the first governing committee. Ardeshir Cowasjee was also introduced to Shehri ( and yourself ) by me. This is just FYI and for the record
Irfan ul Huq Nov 26, 2017 05:31pm
It is time that DAWN publish his selected and edited writings,either in the news paper on a regular basis or in the form of a book. His writings are still relevant.
Anzar Nov 27, 2017 12:45pm
Those who had a chance to learn from him revered him. Heis probably the ONLY guru of state, politics and arts, who would make it a POINT to respond to an email provided it created matter of concern. Generations that grew up reading Cowasjee feel blessed to have him amidst us, and for him to have been so vociferously BLATANT, was welcomed in the stifling era that was the 80s and the 90s in Pakistan.