Guljee’s Death and Societal Apathy
By Anila Ali
Karachi, Pakistan
A few years ago, the renowned artist of Pakistan was visiting Los Angeles. Luckily, I was asked by Pakistan Link to take his interview. It sent a wave of excitement through me because as a child I remembered Guljee visiting our home in London where my father, Qutubuddin Aziz, was posted as Minister Information at the Embassy of Pakistan. I remembered my father had helped arrange for an exhibition of his paintings and get him the maximum media coverage which was my father's forte. I remember him coming to our house once holding a painting and presenting it to my mother who was simply delighted. For days she kept it away from us all so that it would dry and she would take peeks at it occasionally to see that it was secure. It was indeed a privilege to be presented a painting exclusively done by Guljee.
When I arrived at Guljee's house in Los Angeles and reminded him of who I was, he said so humbly, "I feel so honored to be interviewed by the daughter of such great caliber as my good friend, Qutubuddin Aziz." After the interview, I promised him that I would visit his museum the next time I visited Karachi. It wasn't meant to be. A few days after my arrival in Karachi, I heard the shocking news of the multiple murders at Guljees’ house.
I feel deeply shocked and grieved on his sad demise. What makes me feel worse is that the so-called elites and socialites are completely apathetic. The slain couple's last rites were performed at the Kharadar Ismaili Jamaatkhana and only a few people attended them. There was no governmental representation. The only compassionate compatriot of Guljee's, Anwar Maqsood, attended the small funeral.
When Dawn published the news of the burial and talked about the lack presence of any government officials, the Caretaker Minister of Culture, Amber Nancy and Sherry Rehman of the PPP, showed up. Guljee's brother had flown in from the UK and his son and daughter were obviously grieved. The so-called art circle socialites of Karachi came in to socialize and were mostly gossiping nonchalantly. Most just came to be seen. Some were desperate to tour the house for which they obviously attended the soyem. I quietly sat and observed the apathy and selfishness that has consumed the Karachiites. The events that followed this sad event showed the world how insensitive people have become.
However, for me and my father, it was the loss of a great artist who brought Pakistan fame and made masterpieces of Islamic calligraphy that will make his memory live on forever.
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