Raoshni kum naheeñ hüee …

Here's a book you MUST read …

Karima Bennoune

is a

UN Special Rapporteur

in the field of cultural rights.

Read more about here.

She came to Pakistan during a visit

when she was gathering material for her book:

Among others that she met while here,

she also met my friend, Faizan Peerzada,

now no longer with us.

The Twins: Sadaan & Faizan

There is a piece about him in this book,

about their great work,

and his position on freedom of expression.

•

Karima was also taken to T2F by my wife, Nuzhat,

to meet our wonderful close friend

(and almost adopted daughter)

Sabeen Mahmud.

Although the book was written before Sabeen

was assassinated, the book has a whole

chapter about her and the lovely work Sab did.

Karima's article about Sabeen's assassination

can be read here.

•

While on our trip to NY last year

my wife and I met Karima.

She said that she was going to write

more about Sabeen in her new book.

•

I miss the speed at which Sab changed her graphics!

I miss your designs, Sab.

And I miss your improvements.

•

One Christmas you sent me a design that you'd share

with your T2F friends.

•

You sent me this first.

I thought the Image was OK,

but not brilliant.

•

You sent me this again, in 30 minutes.

with a Title that said

"I won't stop until I get it right".

I thought this was OK,

But it wasn't quite you.

•

You sent me this in just another hour.

"DONE", I said.

And that's the way it finally stayed.

•

Just look at what you did in under 2 hours

Aaj 19 Maheenay Ho Gaey

Sabeen Mahmud

24th April 2015

24th November 2016

Sabeen's Favourite Faiz Poem

Etymology - 1 (Kind of …)

Etymology - 1 (Kind of …)

Please click the above and go to the actual post.
There are some links
(including Sabeen's)
you may have missed.

A Year and a Half

Has it really been that long, Sab?

18 months?

•

I drink my Coffee every day

from the lovely mugs you gave me.

Remember this in 1988?

It was the first mug you gave me at Solutions Unlimited.

You had just come back from England.

We had hardly talked very much by then.

You were at KGS and came to our office to learn computers.

You fell in love with the Mac.

•

When you gave me this you were not sure if I would like it,

or would i just say 'Thank You' and put it aside.

•

I loved it and put it on my table.

Shireen's little son came a little later and saw it.

Poor kid. He started to cry.

Told Shireen that I was retiring.

I would not be at SU again.

•

Time passed.

Years later, in 2000, you gave me another mug.

No.

There never is Life before Coffee.

(Although now, it seems, there isn't much life after Coffee, either.)

•

I brought it home and used it for years as my favourite mug.

It was, very recently, in the centre of my mug collection.

Now it is back again with my Espresso Maker.

•

And you finally gave me this mug.

2013 was when I got it when you came back from UK.

How wonderful.

My favourite book.

Now on a Penguin Mug.

•

Its the one I drink Coffee from, often.

(I have a lovely picture of you drinking from it)

But today I will put all those mugs away.

•

I don't ever want to break them.

Shatter them.

•

They cannot leave me.

•

But you did!

Has it been that long ago?

Doodle by Sabeen

17 months!

It seems like just a few days ago we were talking.

I often think you have gone on a long trip

and will be back soon …

… and Jaadu feels the same way.

 We all miss you, baby.