Remembering Mushtaq Gazdar

Mushtaqda was a filmmaker who was both positive and powerful. He will be missed.

To everyone who has responded to this article:

thank you all. I apologise for not getting back to you earlier - I don`t get to the web every often. It is heartening to get this feedback and we all appreciate your support and care.

Regarding how to access Mushtaq Gazdar`s films, his son Haris Gazdar would be the best person; I will ask him.

Thanks again.

Beena

To ZEEMAX:

Welcome back!

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

People like Mushtaq Gazdar do not die ..

They just fade away.

Just one heart attack too many to handle. Maybe he wanted to go.

Please excuse this coda to my last post:

Rehan, you are mentioned in the article on Desani in www.tehelka.com....

You probably know that already, sorry if I am out of the loop here.

Will you be writing about him again on Chowk?

regards,

Harpreet

Beena,

My commiserations on your loss. I will seek out the works of Mushtaq Gazdar, as I previously had been unaware of him, I had been completely unaware of any Pakistani filmakers.

Rehan Ansari:

GV Desani has also recently passed away, there are some links and obituary on www.tehelka.com

regards,

Harpreet

Gazdar`s ``They are Killing the Horse`` was much
discussed by us during the dark days of the Zia
Regime in Pakistan.
My thanks to Beena here for letting us revisit our times of idealism, and for recognizing a fine
human being on CHOWK.
That brings me to another important point. How can we access such works by Gazdar Sahib in case we want to share such rare efforts of Pakistan`s
cinematic arts? Any contact information on distributors, etc. would be helpful.

Ras

Bibi:

I was sorry to learn of your loss. And from what I read, country`s too. Very sad. Please accept my sincerest sympathies.

I have been away from Pakistan for 43 years without contact. So, I am almost an alien. I seem to be familiar with the name Guzder but do not recall the context. However, your narrative of his accomplishment and in-depth look into his work makes me ask the inevitable question: How can I get hold of his ducumentary productions? Are any available on tape. I wouldn`t mind buying a selection of his 35mm. Please help.

In ``Song of Wishes``, do you think he may have been protesting against the ultimate dictatorship? That of God`s? You highlighted what seemed important to you but I saw a different picture from your description. Interesting, isn`t it, that reality, in the final analysis, is still like the Jaini story`s elephant which either Jeevay or A Gnostic brought on the Chowk!

My condolences, once again, for your loss in the family.

Sincerely,

Parvez Pirzada [family.institute@home.com]

Thank you for letting people know about Mushtaq Gazdar. I knew that he is an admirable personality, but didn`t know what to admire about him. Is there any way I can get copies of the films you have mentioned. Would they be available in Rainbow centre perhaps?

Regards

m

Ms Sarwar,

Thank you for sharing the inspired and inspiring life of this this seemingly remarkable man.

Hope you are able to continue the `family tradition` of blending the arts with social responsiblity. If your films turn out to be anything as bold and passionate as your journalism, you shall no doubt do Gazdar sahab very proud.

Ras #189 I regret the need for this on a board that has to do with an important matter that provides a way forward for people in India and Pakistan. IT is a subject I am in fact very much interested in, having spent the past quarter century in various capacities in this field (and I have a presentation before an IT group from a number of different companies this very afternoon!!).

Having said that, I think that internet discussions are very much a part of the IT revolution. For South Asians these discussions provide a forum for Indians and Pakistanis (who are not starving like most of their countrymen) to come together in a constructive way - God knows, given the way our governments behave and given the way our press behaves and given the lack of people to people interaction, chowk and the internet generally provide a forum for building understanding. But it takes only one or two people to shift the discussion into the sewer. We can ignore such posts, or we can challenge them. I chose to do the latter when I have time.

Netiquette is not something one hears much about on chowk, and is perhaps too much to be expected in South Asian posts. But we must draw the line somewhere, and I draw the line on insults and abusive language of the kind I challenged urstruly on. I would be glad to discuss the substantive issues with you or Zafar or anyone else, but I will also challenge those (Indian or Pakistani) who - having nothing to contribute - are make their presence felt by hurling insults and abuse.

Dear Beena:

I first read about the sad and untimely death of Mushtaq Gazdar in a Pakistani newspaper. Mushtaq Gazdar(whom I called Mushtaq Bhai during my student days in Karachi University)was a year or two senior to me, while his brother Nasir was perhaps a year or two junior to me.

After a lapse of some 38 years or so, I still recall his smiling face and pleasing personality. Please convey my sympathies to Saeeeda Bhabi, Haris, Prachi, Aisha, and Nasir.

Thanks for writing a great informative piece.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad