Living in memory: Students, colleagues remember Mickey Ahsan
Journalist, lecturer was diagnosed with liver cancer and passed away on July 3
Kaleem Ahsan stands with a group of his students from Bahria University. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Kaleem Ahsan, popularly known as ‘Mickey Ahsan’, passed away in the early hours of July 3, 2015. Mickey, 52, was diagnosed with liver cancer and was admitted at the Shifa International Hospital. He was a learned and ambitious man of multiple interests — from journalism to teaching to fashion photography.
Friends, colleagues and students remember Mickey as a humble and lively person as well as an avid traveller and a man of strong faith.
His work experience included writing for the Dawn newspaper and working as an assistant editor for The News International where he pioneered the entertainment page “Instep”.
Mickey was also running a well-known fashion photography brand under the name “Mickey Momey”, with business partner Murad Baalaj.
He was a faculty member at the Bahria University, Islamabad where he taught International Relations, Journalism, and Photography.
A favourite among his students for his friendly nature, he leaves behind a lavish number of devoted students.
“I was sir Kaleem’s student for four semesters. He was so full of life. He’d regularly take us out for breakfast or lunch and would always go out of his way to help us. He was truly loved by everyone who knew him. I saw him a few hours before he passed away and realised how extremely difficult it is knowing that you’re meeting someone for the last time. My class fellows and I are deeply saddened by his demise and things won’t ever be the same again,” says Maha Usman, one of several of Mickey’s students at the university. “He was extremely polite and good-natured,” said another former student-turned-journalist Arsalan Altaf.
“As a friend, he was a lovely person…genuine and learned. He was very supportive and decent, and a great fashion photographer. I was shocked to hear about his death,” said event management specialist Rezz Aly Shah.
Mickey leaves behind a twin brother and three sisters.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2015.
Kaleem Ahsan, popularly known as ‘Mickey Ahsan’, passed away in the early hours of July 3, 2015. Mickey, 52, was diagnosed with liver cancer and was admitted at the Shifa International Hospital. He was a learned and ambitious man of multiple interests — from journalism to teaching to fashion photography.
Friends, colleagues and students remember Mickey as a humble and lively person as well as an avid traveller and a man of strong faith.
His work experience included writing for the Dawn newspaper and working as an assistant editor for The News International where he pioneered the entertainment page “Instep”.
Mickey was also running a well-known fashion photography brand under the name “Mickey Momey”, with business partner Murad Baalaj.
He was a faculty member at the Bahria University, Islamabad where he taught International Relations, Journalism, and Photography.
A favourite among his students for his friendly nature, he leaves behind a lavish number of devoted students.
“I was sir Kaleem’s student for four semesters. He was so full of life. He’d regularly take us out for breakfast or lunch and would always go out of his way to help us. He was truly loved by everyone who knew him. I saw him a few hours before he passed away and realised how extremely difficult it is knowing that you’re meeting someone for the last time. My class fellows and I are deeply saddened by his demise and things won’t ever be the same again,” says Maha Usman, one of several of Mickey’s students at the university. “He was extremely polite and good-natured,” said another former student-turned-journalist Arsalan Altaf.
“As a friend, he was a lovely person…genuine and learned. He was very supportive and decent, and a great fashion photographer. I was shocked to hear about his death,” said event management specialist Rezz Aly Shah.
Mickey leaves behind a twin brother and three sisters.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2015.