KARACHI: Speakers at an event held to pay homage to distinguished journalist and human rights activist I.A. Rehman shed light on his life and work at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi on Wednesday evening.

Dr Syed Jaffar Ahmed who moderated the event said Rehman sahib led a life that had a sense of fulfilment and accomplishment. He was lucky that at an early stage of his career he got the opportunity to work alongside the likes of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Mazhar Ali Khan and Mian Iftikharuddin.

Social worker and activist Anees Haroon said Rehman sahib had positive energy. She never saw him despondent or feeling dejected (kabhi mayus nahin dekha).

Journalist Mazhar Abbas said the late activist was a young man of 90 years. His work is his legacy. He was a clear-headed man who used to participate in Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) meetings. He thought the PFUJ was the only organisation that would fight first as a democratic force.

Mr Abbas said Rehman sahib joined journalism when it was strong. The institution of editor was also strong. Editors used to take stands on issues. He was a workaholic and even at the age of 90 kept writing with the utmost clarity. He never cared about his job. All his life he believed in his principles. He was so convincing in presenting his ideas that no one, on the basis of his writings, could blame him for being biased.

Prof Dr Tauseef Ahmed Khan said Rehman sahib’s real name was Akhtar Rehman. When he joined journalism he was renamed I.A. Rehman. He was born in Hasanpur near Gurgaon in Haryana, India. It was a Muslim-majority area. His father had progressive leanings. He became progressive because of his father. In 1947, at the time of partition, Hasanpur almost got destroyed. He shifted to Pakistan, first to Shujaabad and then Multan. He also sat for CSS exams.

Secretary Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Harris Khalique (who spoke online from Lahore) said his association with Rehman sahib spanned 40 years. The late activist was a role model for him from day one. Due to the pandemic he (Khalique) couldn’t visit Lahore frequently. So last year in September when he phoned Rehman sahib on his 90th birthday Rehman sahib said to him he was happy that Khalique had made Lahore his pind (village). It was a subtle comment. The next day Khalique packed up his stuff and reached Lahore.

Journalist and TV anchor Munizae Jahangir (who also addressed the audience from Lahore) said Rehman sahib’s departure has created a void that no one can fill. When she was young she used to think that Rehman sahib was her nana (maternal grandfather). For the entire world he was a giant, but he had a way of connecting to generations across divides. He always had a twinkle in his eyes and would even consult children on important issues. He also had a unique sense of humour.

Journalist Jawed Naqvi spoke from India. He said Rehman sahib’s was a towering presence in the context of liberal values. Since Indo-Pak relations were seldom smooth, the late activist would keep trying to mend them. “We used to meet him in Delhi. [The way he spoke] would remind us of a lot of things we’d forgotten. The ease, wit and humour with which he explained himself reminded us of the Ganga-Jamni culture.”

He said once he asked Rehman sahib about shaky Indo-Pak relations and the difference between the two countries. At the time there was democracy in Pakistan. He replied it’s a difference of 19 and 21 (unees aur ikees ka farq hai). When he was asked to expand on that, he said Indians minded the 19-20 difference. “We will miss that kind of humour,” Mr Naqvi said.

Earlier, the council’s president Ahmed Shah spoke on why the council felt the need to arrange an event in Rehman sahib’s honour.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2021