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Sabeen was defiant in life, and went out just as defiant, if not more.
There was nothing that would have dissuaded her from hosting the Balochistan talk last night at the T2F, for that's who she was. She was all about ensuring that those who were not visible enough; didn't have a platform to raise their voice; whose voice, music and art was unheard or unseen; whose activism had not gone mainstream; or simply who needed to grow in confidence – for all those people, she made sure she gave them a springboard to jump as high, go as far as they wanted to.
See: Sabeen, the one who never backed down
There are thousands of people who owe Sabeen the beginning of their careers. She was the kind of person impossible not to love even when she was outwardly defiant. I often told her she was fairly badtameez, just like me – and we always high-fived at that.
She wanted to infuse local art into the current pop culture; create a space where civil liberties and discourse could happen.
One thing she loved more than anything was political rallies – didn't matter whose it was, didn't matter when or where. The adrenalin of protests, she used to say, gave her a lifeline.
The night before, she was trying to convince us to go to Jinnahbagh. I told her I was putting her on mute in our Whatsapp group. I'd had enough of the NA-246 drama and every other news item about it.
Among Sabeen's main loves were Apple products, her cat 'Jadoo', and the British actor Hugh Laurie. She and my sister exchanged photos of Hugh Laurie several times a day. And I loved how she could talk about TV shows like they had real people in them.
Read on: T2F hosts the Balochistan discussion that others shy away from
The T2F was the kind of place where one returned from filled with ideas, or at least the longing to do something. I still remember her cheerfulness at the Creative Festival, a fundraising event organised to keep the dream of the T2F alive this past year.
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Raania, Marvi, Sanam, and her team at the T2F and several others and myself were in the preparation phase of Dil Phaink, which is going to be part of the Alchemy Festival at the Southbank Center in London on May 21st.
Recreating Karachi for this gallery, each one of us had a project, mine being a video installation which was rather dark. But, Sabeen skillfully cajoled me out of the darkness into something much better. I realise now that she deployed her friendly – rather than authoritative – tone to draw me in and persuade me to do this. I can't help smiling, thinking about that now.
My last message to her last night is time-stamped 20:45, saying that I agreed with the title of my project. It does not have the blue ticks to confirm that her eyes have seen it.
She will never know I sent her a big smiley emoticon and agreed to the title she picked for me.
As I ran through the hospital corridor to find friends already there, I was expecting to see Sabeen in a dressing or a sling, with a grin, 'cause you know ... you ain’t relevant till you’re shot, right? But to find her already gone broke more than just our hearts.
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After the loss of Musadiq Sanwal (former editor Dawn.com), who was my mentor, the loss of Sabeen Mahmud is too much to comprehend.
And it's too soon.
Another kindred spirit, another friend gone from us; from this city of Karachi, the place we call home.
—Photos provided by friends and family of Sabeen Mahmud
Related:
Alia Chughtai is typographically correct and right aligned.
She tweets @AliaChughtai
The views expressed by this writer and commenters below do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
Comments (37) Closed
Sabeen Mahmud was brave women.
Am tearful! Even not knowing her before, i feel we have lost an asset to this country, and a wonderful lady. May God help us, and bless the defiant soul. Amen
People like Sabeen Mehmud, wanted to change the world, with peace and tranquility, silenced by cowards.
She lit our fire and and left us in the dark.
Her murder is an attempt to destroy the intellectual life in the country.
Sorry for your loss; it seems she was a national treasure. Our collective humanity is weaker today.
I disagree with her point of view. However she should not have been killed for it.
This murder has broken my heart. My hopes and dreams of seeing my beloved city Karachi as the city of lights and harmony is dwindling:(
Alia you two seem good friends, activists and very informed folks. We need people like you. Society needs more people like you.
Without politically getting involved there can not be change. We must get a govt that we can hold accountable. Thats the issue.
How could Pakistan thinking of progress and lossing assets like these intellectuals?? Time will come, there would be no more lone Guide.
@naveed
Thank you for your support of her right to live despite your disagreement with what she believed and aspired for and that alone is the resounding victory of her cause and millions who adore her. May God bless Pakistan and her beautiful departed soul.
Excellent article. Our hearts bleed at this senseless killing. RIP Sabeen.
Saira was a brave person and the people who got her assasinated are a bunch of miserable shameless cowards. All they can do is kill their own people. Never in history have they been able to stand up to the real enemy.
What a high price for freedom of speech.
She gave me my first start. Thank you for writing this alia, I wish you didn't have to write it.
It's a shame to be part of a community where freedom of speech is supressed
@zak wrong wrong that is exactly what our enemies want. She was recieving threats before that as well and ISI is not stupid that it would do such a thing just after the LUMS backlash
I dont know Sabeen but now I have come to know her . With this ideology she is going to backfire again .iam sure. The killers should wait to face her.
Why there is a sudden upsurge in Baluchistan related issues after the Chinese president visit and the economic corridor and Gwadar port development plans...it is clear and present danger, and who is behind it is also clear.
I never got to shake this lady's hand....and I am the poorer for it.
nothing will happen, nothing will change, Deal with It
A great loss for the Pakistani society.
Happy to know such a individual existed in Pakistan, sad to hear about it like this....nevertheless, just hearing about people like this makes one want to get up do something good and meaningful for their fellow men......she lit the torch, now its for others to keep it burning.
My condolences to the author, you seem to have lost a dear friend - a friend who incidentally was a national treasure.
And again responsibility has been taken by TTP. These cowards must be eliminated in order to maintain peace in the country. Last hope "Pak Army"....Sabeen Mahmood was a brave woman, may her soul rest in peace.
My heart is bleeding!even not knowing her before her murder.she was a daughter of soil.
Important not to get carried away and keep some perspective. All death is regrettable and particularly the death of a young sincere person striving to make a difference. However, the state is fighting an existential battle for survival against insurgent forces and anything that diminishes the ability of the state to meet the challenge must be disapproved. While silencing the critic is not the preferred mode of expressing disapproval, it needs to be remembered that there are far more important stakes involved . May the brave lady rest in peace.
Nothing will become of Pakistan. Anyone that is sincere or wants a progressive Pakistan will be shot dead. You can see, one example after another. Sad indeed !
@zak murderers could b those who dont want peace in balochistan. to create another controversy. why u ppl always ready to spread hate?
a brave woman left us, a big loss for intellectuals
right aligned...i love that
Any voice raising awareness about Balochistan is silenced no matter what class or part of society one belongs to. We can well imagine how brutally a voice is silenced if it is raised by a common man.
Sabeen's spirit will live on to guide the freedom of expression for the youth!
Very touching indeed. Sabeen's team (including yourself) are an asset to our country. I wish we could do more to understand and safeguard the best of us. I loved this quote of yours... 'cause you know ... you ain’t relevant till you’re shot!...sad it is
Our heat and prayers go out to all of Sabeen's friends and family. She is a hero and a few bullets cannot kill a hero. She will live on in the form of her movement and T2F.
Abdul Quddus DET- United States Central Command
RIP Sabeen, you will be missed. God, I naturally looked up Musadiq Sanwal to see how and when he was gunned down. But the Dawn editor had actually died of lung cancer and not by the hand of those extremist filth.