Ardeshir Cowasjee At T2F
Today at The Second Floor it was Ardeshir Cowasjee, invited as the honorable guest to talk about the glory days of Karachi. At the age of almost 81 the man young at heart, bold and out spoken and lively as a newly wedded groom talked about the Karachi he knew.
Memories of his school teacher who was although paid Rs.400 at the time but used to ride his bicycle to school, and the time he was jailed for 72 days by Bhutto the reason to which is still unknown to him or any one else, were a few of the things about him that he shared.
The picture of old Karachi Cowasjee presented, was some what of a city with fewer cars, and great people, people who enjoyed life to the fullest and respected each other regardless of their cast or creed, a city full of peace and harmony.
From his views one could tell that today people of this city have started talking life a bit too seriously, in olden days people enjoyed a lot more than they do today, they needed not much to enjoy life back then as a dirt filled ground was good enough to make it into a football field, or a play ground to enjoy a healthy play. Today we have parks, stadiums and so much more but no time to enjoy.
Commenting on the literacy rate he pointed out that at the time of the creation of Pakistan the literacy rate among Hindus, Parses and Christens was much higher as compared to Muslims and even today Muslim don’t chose to go to schools.
Ardeshir Cowasjee’s stunning personality, the lively stories and the boldness in his words made this evening absolutely unforgettable. Such talks and events at The Second Floor are not only helping to bring out the wonderful colors of our city but also providing our young generation a chance to interact with the legends of our city and to appreciate their contribution to our society. I am really thankful to T2F for organizing such wonderful events for the people of Karachi.
Great post Jamash. Ardeshir is truly a gem of a person.
:) couldn’t make it to T2f this time either :)
Pakistan is truly blessed to have people Like Mr Cowasjee.His family has helped so many great causes.The Citizens Foundation School in Machar Colony is just one great example.
Please keep up the great job you are doing in so many ways.Long Live Mr Cowasjee.May Allah help guide us all inshallah.
Missed this great event. To get to hear AC upclose and personal is truly an event.
A true son of the soil. A literary giant and fearless social worker … AC is an inspiration.
NB: Wish the religious obsessed people and fundamentalists would ‘learn’ something from this man: what the word “STRUGGLE” means. It’s an endeavour of the heart that benefits ALL through the comined effort of your hand and mind. Not some bookish ritualistic interpretation of Jihad that divides people for some holy war between Civilizations.
A truly gem of a person. It was really a wonderful experience listening to AC up close and personal.
By the way, Jamash, where were you sitting this time? How come, I never see you?
honorable and cowasjee should not be mentioned in the same sentence…..
the guy is a bloody blackmailer…..
@BR0KE short & in simple words, you have no idea what honor means.
how do u spell R E S P E C T., if you don have any for yourself.
AC must be age of your Grandparents. Have some heart, before lashing flame.
He didn’t say much about Karachi itself…in fact he did not seem inclined to talking at all.And there was hardly anything inspiring from him.In fact,he advised the younger generation to get out of the city – to run away.I did not like that sentiment.Why not stay here and try to improve this place which,according to him,is just going from bad to worse?Why is he still in Karachi if he believes that one should leave if one can do so?He offered no hope.Maybe I did not understand him?I would have asked these questions had Sabeen not closed the session.
http://www.vidpk.com/view_video.php?viewkey=1722446160&page=&viewtype=&category=
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I thought it was a mix of good and bad. Yes, not all of his comments are well accepted, and yes, I did not agree with everything he said. But then again, we are all entitled to have an opinion that others may not agree with.
All in all, it was a good session, and thanks to AC for showing up in such fragile condition. He needed an Angicid half way through the session.
Arsalan apparently had his eyes all over the place. And Nabeel should not be disappointed, as he and I along with millions more will stay in Karachi and elevate it again one day. Viva Karachi!
I thought it was a mix of good and bad. Yes, not all of his comments are well accepted, and yes, I did not agree with everything he said. But then again, we are all entitled to have an opinion that others may not agree with.
All in all, it was a good session, and thanks to AC for showing up in such fragile condition. He needed an Angicid half way through the session.
Arsalan apparently had his eyes all over the place. And Nabeel should not be disappointed, as he and I along with millions more will stay in Karachi and elevate it again one day. Viva Karachi!
I thought it was a mix of good and bad. Yes, not all of his comments are well accepted, and yes, I did not agree with everything he said. But then again, we are all entitled to have an opinion that others may not agree with.
All in all, it was a good session, and thanks to AC for showing up in such fragile condition. He needed an Angicid half way through the session.
Arsalan apparently had his eyes all over the place. And Nabeel should not be disappointed, as he and I along with millions more will stay in Karachi and elevate it again one day. Viva Karachi!
ISI ka banda hay.. blackmails everyone
stop casting aspersions on those who cannot defend themselves on this forum — surely the moderators should delete such posts — wishful thinking i suppose –
no offence jamash but surely we can get a better taste of what the man stands for by simply reading his sunday column — yet another plug in for the second floor — this is getting positively nauseating
I was at T2F last night to listen to Ardeshir Cowasjee. Having long admired him for his guts, for his writing and for his sense of humour, I had been looking forward to the evening. I don’t know what kind of expectations people went with – but I certainly wasn’t disappointed. He spoke in true Ardeshir fashion – some of it went over our heads because we couldn’t relate to it but he still had us in stitches with stories of the Haroons, Bhutto, the Parsi, Christian and Muslim communities who were like family.
I agree with Omar that his columns are certainly a treat – but meeting him and listening to him in person is a totally different experience. It is like meeting any celebrity – a movie star, an author, a filmaker, etc. Why look at everything as if it is a plug for T2F? If you were to cover a play at PACC or the Arts Council, wouldn’t you mention the place in your review? What would be the harm in doing so? If there are good things happening in different parts of the city, sharing the information is actually very helpful. Some of my colleagues and friends were very upset that I hadn’t mentioned it to them and because of it they missed a great evening.
Negative comments about religion or Pakistan or Yusuf Haroon or Bhutto? Come on you lot – he was being funny. Have we forgotten how to laugh – especially at ourselves? God help us if that’s true. Chill for heaven’s sake.
@ Arsalaan: Jamash was sitting right behind me. :D
it will be really kind,if any one from those who were there at T2F, tell us how did all go there at the meeting/discussion with mr cowasjee.
ummmm … by car…?
Me too! I went in my beloved S. Alto. :-)) I am not sure, how others came.
@Sumaiyya – it went very well. Read Jamash’s post above for some of the details. I have also covered the event on my blog – jehanara.wordpress.com/2007/07/20/ardeshir-cowasjee-at-t2f
Cheers!
Jamash, are you the one in MIT t-shirt?
I am the one in the yellow shirt, directly behind Jehan Ara.
http://jehanara.wordpress.com/2007/07/20/ardeshir-cowasjee-at-t2f/
I don’t think sumaiyya was referring to the mode of transportation.
isnt he the guy who sweared on national televison??
i know you all “writers” are cowasjee fanboys but honourable people don swear like this….
oh and he has a fatwa against him as well….
im sorry for the awaiting vultures…..
yar arsalan mian, Ms.Jehan ara key peechay tu mujhe ek uncle ji nazar arahe hain half sleeves mey.
Loved the detailed coverage of the event on your blog Jehan :), Thank you for sharing the link with us.
@ Arsalaan: The guy in the MIT shirt is (I hope I am not wrong) Dr. Altamash’s son.
I am sitting right behind ZAK, in the red Shirt.
Adnan mian, woh uncle-jee aab hi key Arsalaan uncle hain, ya phir, Arsalaan Chacha. :-))
…I mean, the one in the Yellow shirt :-))
OMG!!!!!! Jamash, I didn’t knew that you were so young???? You are literally a teenager…
LOLz .. Thank you for the compliments, but I am over 26 … :P, and yeah I have lost the track of my year of birth as well .. :).
haheheheheeh — AC surrounded by teeny weeny bloppers :)
BR0KE, there is fatwa for Qazi Hussain Ahmed of Jamat Islami as well in Nowshehra he was caught sodomising one 7 year old boy when QAZI HUSSAIN AHMED was 19 and was on eid break visiting his home town from Madarsah, track his history and check out WHY he is not visiting NWFP by road, he visit and come back on hurricane speed by AIR never by road.
SO Take a breath, :) Vultures look for DEAD only.
What is the big deal about swearing?
Mae nay khud apnay inn gunaah gaar kaano’n say Z.A. Bhutto ko national TV per behen kee gaali daitay huay sunna hae!
My maattaa jee was in the room along with my pittaa jee. They pretended they didn’t hear it. Mashriqi parents kar bhee kyaa saktay thay!
Must be 1975 or 76. All of us neighborhood kids had a field day later…bhutto nay gaali dee hae, bhutt nay gaali dee hai was the excitement in the air!
Bhutto ney gali de hay? i thought bhutto ney humay benazir di hey?
@ urooj–yar u spoil the whole enthusiasm of knowing what actually happened there at T2F :@
i was not at all interested in knowing how u ppl reached there either by car or by bus.
I thank you so much for narrating something I totally missed out of the distance.
Thanks everyone!
Thanks to Bhutto for giving the constitution that lead to the reinstation of the CJP. Correct me if I am wrong because I was never good at Botany.
Botany?
Where did that come from Salman A. ?
:D
@SALMAN – Yes, you are wrong. ZAB was the first person in Pakistan to hold two positons, Cheif Martial LAw Administrator and PM and the first to ammendmend the constitution to suit his needs.
* Adnan wrote:
Bhutto ney gali de hay? i thought bhutto ney humay benazir di hey?
******
Budnazir is like a gaali to Pakistan. I believe Mushee will be the biggest idiot to allow this stupid woman back in power. She should be tried in the court of law, not made a PM.
@ Sumaiyya: LOL sowie! :D
Some Legitimate Blog Author Can Start Topic for us – who next – Benazir or Moulana Fazalur Rehman
and we can take topic there onwards.
Cheers!
Please use proper names:
Budnazir and Oyae Fazlu