Celebrating the life of Abul Hasanat

Friends, family gather at KPC in remembrance of late veteran journalist

KARACHI:

It has been a year since the journalist community of Pakistan lost one of its most critical minds. Veteran journalist Abul Hasanat left us on October 5, 2019, after a brief illness. On Saturday evening, journalists old and young, academics, intellectuals, poets and thinkers, family members and loved ones gathered at the Karachi Press Club in remembrance of a friend, a teacher, a mentor departed.

A year ago, many of the same people had gathered in the same room mourning his passing. On Saturday, they were here to celebrate the life of the venerable man they once knew.

As those who knew him well recalled tales of Abul Hasanat's resilience, resolve, and courage - and his shararat [mischief] - Hasanat sahab's presence - and absence - could be acutely felt.

As senior journalist Hunaid Ishtiaq put it, "Whether Hasanat sahab was a good person or not is a matter of perception. But that he was a colourful man, no one can deny."

He had a very innocent smile, remembered Shafiqur Rehman Pracha. "He knew how to write the truth. He knew how to say it."

Referring to Hasanat's days at Dawn, Pracha recounted how despite being the city editor of a reputed newspaper, Hasanat would use public transport. "People count their property as their assets but Abul Hasanat counted his [educated] family background as his pride."

Recalling Hasanat's extensive scholarship, former Karachi University vice chancellor Prof Pirzada Qasim said that his father and grandfather were great scholars too. Recalling his contributions to journalism, Prof Qasim remarked, "He was born with a different quality."

An annual lecture programme should be initiated in Hasanat's remembrance, suggested Prof Qasim.

Most people who knew him miss him, he said. "But I feel lonely without him."

His sentiment was echoed by others who regretted that the community was left with very few journalists like Hasanat.

Others like Prof Shakeel Farooqui and Awais Adeeb Ansari spoke about how well read Hasanat was, and his extensive knowledge on a variety of subjects.

He had command over Urdu, Persian, English languages and more, said veteran journalist A H Khanzada. "Who can I turn to now when I need help with these languages?"

Referring to Hasanat's work and his mentorship, Prof Hanif Zaidi said the late journalist was a perfectionist. And a perfectionist is never satisfied, neither with his own work nor with others, as he knows it can be better, he added.

He was a mentor for many young journalists, said former editor of The Express Tribune Kamal Siddiqui. He worried about the professional development of young journalists, recalled Siddiqui.

"We have not forgotten him," he said, adding that this fact stood as testament to the man Hasanat was. He laughingly recalled Hasanat sahab's distinct style. "He was the most well dressed man in the newsroom."