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Ah! Mr Jaidi
I am devastated to learn the sudden and sad demise of Mr. Athar Shah Khan (popularly known as Mr. JAIDI). He was basically a play writer, an actor, a producer, a director and all the more an enviable friend. I knew Mr. Jaidi since 1964, when I was a medical student at Dow Medical College (now University), Karachi. He presented his first play “Baray Sahib” regarding the role of a Tehsildar at the College 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 to exhibit this play at Government College, Lahore (now University). Soon after the 1965 War, after finishing our examination, we requested the Principal of G.C. to display it at the open air theatre, and the Lahoris fully enjoyed this play. Soon after the second episode, Mr. Jaidi wrote many skits and plays for the PTV and were eagerly seen by both Indian and Pakistani viewers every week. His plays were documented and displayed internationally in many countries.
Athar Shah Khan, a great exponent of art and culture, the loving young Jaidi belonged to a mediocre family of Nazimabad, attired in a simplest dress and always travelled by bus. He never owned a car or a bunglow. In short, he was completely an embodiment of simplicity. In view of his outstanding services for the promotion of art and culture, the President of Pakistan decorated him with “Pride of Performance”. In view of his grand exposition, I request the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, especially the PTV to relay his recorded series, I am sure our viewers will certainly enjoy his plays especially during oppressive period of endemic.
PROF DR YASIN DURRANI
Islamabad
The legend goes
Athar Shah Khan alias jaidi has breathed his last on 10th May 2020 in Karachi. Born in Rampur in 1943 he moved with his family to Lahore, Pakistan in 1947 and eventually moved to Karachi in 1975. He was a radio artiste, a poet, a writer, an actor and a comedian par excellence. His radio programme rung he rung Jaidi key sung was aired for 19 years, a record in itself. He amused many generations through decades of 70s to 90s.
Jaidi’s innocence in writing and acting won him accolades throughout his audience. He was a genuine craftsman who crafted humour ingenuously His comic characters and social messages he delivered through them were awesome. His epic dramas, Intezar Farmaye, Ba Adab Ba Mulahiza Husiyar and Lakhon mayn teen amused millions of people. An iconic figure of comedy in a country where good comedians can be counted on fingers, Khan brought smiles on the face of his viewers. His spontaneous dialogue delivery, wit and acting acumen, earned him a special place in the hearts of people, rarely achieved by actors. His physical appearance and comic actions were second to none.
After Jamshaid Ansar, Khan had best timing of dialogue delivery. It is hoped that students of literature would research on his prose and poetry to acknowledge his contribution to Fine Arts that has enriched our literature beautifully. His biography will be of a great interest for his lovers, May his soul rest in highest echelon of heavens.
IFTIIHAR MIRZA
Islamabad
Muslims being scapegoats
When the Black Plague ravaged Europe in the middle of the 14th Century, killing roughly 50% of those infected and one-third of the continent’s population at the time, rumours spread that Jewish people were poisoning wells to spread the disease. Six hundred years later, Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party characterised typhus as the Jewish plague, which became the rationale for the delousing baths, a “camouflage for the gas chambers.”
In the age of a viral pandemic, specifically Covid-19, Muslims have replaced Jews as the world’s most scapegoated religious minority. It’s a clear demonstration of how anti-Semitism and Islamophobia remain inextricably tied, and also emphasises how the Coronavirus crisis is not only a health issue but also one that poses an existential threat to social cohesion, given it’s weaponised to exacerbate long-standing hatred – but particularly against Muslims.
“When there are big epidemics, people get scared,” Martin J. Blaser, a historian and professor of medicine and microbiology at Rutgers University told The Jewish News. “They often look to blame some kind of intruder or stranger. It has happened especially with the Jews.”India, a 22-year-old Muslim man from New Delhi was lynched and viciously assaulted on Sunday after a mob of Hindu thugs falsely accused him of plotting to spread Coronavirus in his home village.
These attacks didn’t take place in a vacuum but within the context of a well-orchestrated and sophisticated campaign by pro-government Hindu nationalists to blame Muslims for the spread of the virus. This claim of a concerted campaign is supported by an investigation conducted by Voyager Infosec, a New Delhi based digital lab, which identified more than 30,000 videos targeted at Muslims on the social media platform TikTok.
Sehish Khan
Islamabad
Paradise
of rich
It is dismaying that in a country of huge economic capabilities, where a major share of GDP is borne out of the toil of the labour class, they have for many years been marginalised when it came to the fruits of their labour. It is unfortunate that they have been denied their rightful entitlements as far as health, education and living conditions are concerned. It may not be an exaggeration to say that we have been taken for a ride by the political class for over many decades and we are still accepting their excuses for not spending enough on health and other basic amenities.
Covid-19 pandemic poses a huge health risk, an extension of the lockdown would prove costly. Since economic activities have come to a grinding halt, every section of the society, particularly the poor, have had to suffer immeasurable hardships. Take for instance the expenditure on health care, which is well short of the prescribed percentage for the overall well being of the nation.
Let us also not forget the under spending in education and living conditions. How long will we be under this political lockdown at the cost of our basic rights is for us to decide. The pandemic response is also the right time to question the political class about the priorities. Let us not forget what Victor Hugo said: “The paradise of the rich is made out of the hell of the poor.”
ARIBA CHAUDHARY
Islamabad
TV channels promoting hate
A lot of television channels in India like Republic TV, Times Now and Aaj Tak have been promoting hated among the minority communities, as these channels are owned by the BJP goons. I request the government of India to ban these channels.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
