Mourning a legend: The inimitable Shoaib Hashmi

Shakespeare wrote in the famed play, Julius Caesar, “The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.” Amidst the backdrop of a Pakistan that has been brought to its knees, the news of Shoaib Hashmi’s passing comes as an irreparable cultural and historic blow.

According to actor and nephew Adeel Hashmi, the legendary writer had been suffering from a brain haemorrhage and passed away on Monday after a prolonged illness. He was 84.

About the legend

Hashmi was a prominent intellectual, educator, and playwright. His numerous significant contributions to Pakistan Television (PTV) such as Akkar Bakkar, Sach Gupp, and Taal Matol, have been pivotal to the cultural landscape of the nation.

Additionally, Hashmi had an impressive academic background, earning a Master of Arts degree in economics from Government College (now Government College University) in Lahore and an MSc degree from the esteemed London School of Economics (LSE). He further honed his passion for the performing arts by studying theatre at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.

Aside from his professional achievements, Hashmi was known for his personal connections. He was married to Salima Hashmi, the daughter of renowned Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, and the couple had two children. With his academic and social prowess, immense cultural capital, and awe-inspiring ability to weave politically sensitive narratives into hard-hitting tales, Hashmi was, by all means, a force to be reckoned with.

Throughout his career, Hashmi captured audiences with his engaging and humorous performances, displaying a down-to-earth and warm demeanour that left a lasting impression on those who knew him. Hashmi will be remembered for his groundbreaking television productions in the 1990s and his witty columns for newspapers.

He received several honours for his work, including the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz and the President's Award for Pride of Performance. In addition to his artistic pursuits, Hashmi had a passion for teaching and made a positive impact on many students during his tenure at Government College and later at the Lahore School of Economics.

Outside of his professional life, Hashmi was admired for his compassion, tolerance, and artistic sensibilities. He enjoyed discussing poetry and music, and his humility and kindness endeared him to friends, students, and colleagues. Hashmi's legacy also extended to his writing, where he blended serious social commentary with a lighter touch, using burlesque to address prevailing issues.

In his retirement, Hashmi continued his literary pursuits, writing for newspapers and translating books. Notably, he translated a book titled A Song for This Day: 52 Poems by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, which was illustrated by his wife. He also played a role in promoting education and highlighting the distinction between intelligence and formal qualifications.

Hashmi leaves behind a rich body of work that will be cherished by the theatre industry and those who admired his intellectual contributions. His legacy as a visionary playwright, dedicated educator, and compassionate artist will continue to inspire future generations.

Remembering an icon

Speaking exclusively to The Express Tribune, key players of the Pakistani media industry spoke about the impact of Hashmi’s work and his influence as a beacon of ingenuity. Senior film and television actor, Simi Raheal, mourned the monumental loss, while also reflecting on the footprint he left behind. “I had never known anybody like him. He was the most incredibly generous human ever that I've met. He had the most amazing way with children - he spoiled them rotten.”

She further stated, “He was an Imagineer: a creative genius. Nobody had wit like his. He laughed a lot. He was beautiful to look at and also inside. We grew up idolising him my entire life. I had never known their front door to be locked. Anybody and everybody was always welcome to eat, sleep, or hang out - always.”

Shedding light on the nature of the veteran playwright, Raheal continued, “The kind of information he had, the kind of hunger he had to gather information about his country, Lahore, food, the streets, the people, the history - we kept saying, ‘Write a book,’ but because he didn't want to, he didn't write one. That wealth was transferred in bits, we all have snippets of it - his children, his nephews - they are tremendously gifted. He was such an integral part of the family that he distributed cultural wealth to all.”

Renowned actor, composer, and singer, Arshad Mehmood, also spoke to The Express Tribune, opening up about the legend in question, while also sharing how Hashmi impacted his life. “He taught me economics in Government College Lahore,” stated Mehmood, “and then took interest in my music activities and then invited me to compose music for his TV programme for children titled Akkar Bakkar. If today I am still making music, then it is his encouragement at every stage, which helped me to be what I am today.”

Reminiscing further, Mehmood said, “He was a man with so many qualities and an acute judge of talent. He was witty and sharp and introduced so many outstanding performers such as Samina Ahmed, Irfan Khoosat, Salman Shahid, Farooq Qaiser, and so many others, and enriched our cultural landscape. Every moment spent with him in work or leisure was memorable. I can write a book.”

The mentor, the master

Ace filmmaker Sarmad Khoosat also spoke to The Express Tribune about Hashmi and his vast, irreplicable influence. Khoosat recalled his first meeting with Hashmi, and also shed light on the relationship between his father, Irfan Khoosat, and the late playwright. “I don't think that anyone who even came across Shoaib Sahab, for once even, would have a sentence or a word or a brief response to define the relationship or that experience,” Khoosat stated.

Continuing further, he said, “He had that vastness - that kind of infinite compassion and that energy - there was no way to escape it. It just left something with you. I grew up watching him - he was my father’s mentor, teacher, and guru. My father has this veneration for him, and he always calls him his teacher. And he was his teacher.”

Thinking back to their first meeting, Khoosat stated, “I just remember that I was in a government college and fortunately, he was still there. He was the head of the economics department. That’s when our direct encounters happened. My dad told me, ‘Day one, when you go to government college, you have to go to Shoaib Sahab’s office, greet him, and tell him you are my son.”

He further continued, “I went up to his office and I asked his personal assistant. He said, ‘Yes go in, knock, no one checks with me if they have to meet Shoaib Sahab.’ Everybody had direct access, be it students, faculty, or ex-students. I knocked and he was sitting there with a bunch of students around him, roaring laughter. I greeted him and those big, blue eyes that were so deceptive - because one thought that he was always staring at you - but when you knew him, and it only took a few seconds, you knew what compassionate, kind, loving eyes those were.”

“So he looked at me, and I was taken aback a little bit. And he said, ‘Yes?’ I said, ‘Yes, I’m Sarmad.’ He said, ‘So?’ I said, ‘I am Irfan Khoosat’s son.’ He said, ‘So?’ I said, ‘My father said I should greet you.’ He said, ‘Okay, you’ve greeted me.’ I turned back thinking that was it, and suddenly - I mean his wit and his sense of humour was impeccable - so he laughed and said very fondly, ‘Come back here, where are you going?’ I went in again and he said, ‘Congratulations on your admission,’ and gave me a big hug. I remember him for his hugs, for his energy, for everything. There is and there will never be anyone like him. “

Khoosat also highlighted the inimitable nature of the legendary educator. “He was the OG OG (original gangster). Really, there’s been nobody like him. The command that he had over whatever he did, be it teaching - and he’s taught generations and generations of people - and he was an excellent, excellent teacher. Even after his retirement, he continued teaching. When it came to whatever he wrote and produced - even if you watch today, it’s universal, timeless, like great literature - just great art. And that originality is unmatched.

Khoosat continued, “ [So] many generations have been inspired by that sense of humour which was so unique. And his contribution to the arts, to education - I think it’s a big, big loss. It’s a void, and nobody can fill it. It was just him. And there has been nobody like him.”

Speaking about the kind of impact that Hashmi had, Khoosat stated, “With him, he was really like this wonder man. You could not tell what he was best at. As a human being, I’ve not come across somebody as benevolent, as kind, as accessible, as inspiring as him. People who’ve been touched by him - the number would be really large - it would be an infinite number of people that have been influenced and inspired by him.”

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