Robin Fernandez: A fine son, a brilliant journalist

KARACHI: With the death of Robin Fernandez, Op-Ed editor of The Express Tribune, Pakistan has lost one of its finest copy editors. I have lost a lifetime friend and much-loved colleague.

I recall the day I first met Robin in 1989. I was a newly enrolled Masters student in mass communication at Karachi University. He was in his third year of BA Honours. We became friends instantly. It was in Robin's nature to reach out to people.

Both classes combined were a handful of students, many of them foreigners. Robin was a favourite amongst all. But he was usually found outside class, deep in conversation with some friend at some random place on the campus.

My classmate Erum Shakir named him "mysterious Robin" not only for his frequent bunking of class but also because of the company he kept - leftists, rightists, locals, foreigners - they were all his friends.

What we all knew was Robin was the best read amongst us all, and possibly the smartest member of the class. And yet, not once did he try to impress us with his knowledge. Preferring to stay in the background, always trying to keep a low profile. That was the Robin Fernandez we all knew.

After graduation - myself, Robin and two other classmates ended up being part of the launch team of The News. By the time the paper was launched in February 1991, Robin, who worked as a sub editor on the foreign desk, had distinguished himself and was being given more responsibility.

But the restless Robin was ready to move on. Within a year he left Pakistan to join the Arab News in Jeddah where he looked after the foreign pages.

I remember Robin calling me in an exasperated state from Jeddah once - he wasn't happy with the work being done by the correspondent of the paper in Karachi and he asked me to file on the elections in 1993. The patriot that he was, Robin was also keen that more journalists from Pakistan could end up in his paper because he thought that staffers from other countries were intent on giving Pakistan a bad name.

Some years later, a homesick Robin returned to Pakistan. One reason was that his parents were getting old and another was that he missed life in Karachi. He was at his happiest here. He went on then to join Daily Dawn and then the Herald - both places where he is remembered fondly for his attention to detail and superior editing skills.

In 2009, he joined Business Day as its news editor. But Robin remained a restless soul and his stint in that paper was short and soon after that I convinced him to join The Express Tribune.

Robin's stay in The Express Tribune was perhaps his longest in any news organisation. In many ways I felt that he had finally settled down.

As editorial coordinator and then foreign editor, he looked after the IHT pages and the regional page before he turned his attention to vetting other important stories going into the paper. Never did he refuse extra work. Colleagues remember him fondly for always being ready to give advice or help in their work. His quiet and firm attitude won him many friends in the newsroom.

Even though we had been friends for over 20 years, Robin remained formal in all official communication to me. I once asked him why and he said that while we could be friends outside the newsroom, such liberties could not be taken at work as it would set a bad example. But at the same time, when I was under pressure or facing a tough time, he would always inquire after me, very gently, without giving the impression of intruding.

I will always remember Robin Fernandez for the quiet but competent person that he was. If Robin were reading this, I'm sure the first thing he would want to do is take out his pen and proof-read this piece for mistakes. Forgive me if there are any.

To his wife Marina Fernandez and children Merrick, Ronan and Russell, I have this to say: Robin was one of the finest men we have ever known. You should be proud of the way he lived his life. He was a son Pakistan can be proud of. RIP Robin Fernandez. We will miss you.

The writer is the former Editor of the The Express Tribune

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2018.