Shoaib Hashmi (1938 – 2023) You will be missed dearly – tribute to many years of Theatre, Arts, Life & Love!
Shoaib Hashmi – Playwright, Dramatist, Humorist, Educationist, Teacher, Mentor, Intellectual and so much more!
“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts”
William Shakespeare
With profound grief, we bid farewell to an intellectual, humorist, playwright, educationist, and above all a gentle soul. Shoaib Hashmi – he led where others followed. He carved a path with his signature wit that left us with a smile and so many memories onscreen. From Akkar Bakkar and Sach Gupp to Taal Matol… he redefined humor onscreen lending it a class of its own.
Shoaib Hashmi will always be remembered as a mentor and teacher to those who knew him and as an invaluable loss to our entertainment, theatrical, cultural and educational sphere.
He was known for his quick wit, fluent sarcasm, love for teaching and his prowess of his craft. One of a kind, with the ability to be comical but never ceasing to be a genius. He was the son-in-law of the illustrious poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, he was the husband of Salima Hashmi and is survived by his son and daughter.
In a humble effort to pay tribute to the powerhouse of a man who was so dearly loved by all those who knew him and of him, we share 5 things that stand out in his illustrious career:
1. A Luminary With Countless Talents
He started his journey from the world of Economics with a Master’s degree in Economics from Government College, Lahore and an MSc from the London School Of Economics. His gift of the arts and wit was ever present and he acknowledged it by studying Theatre from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, London.
Besides winning the best performance award in 1995, he was also bestowed with the prestigious Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and the coveted President’s Award for Pride of Performance. Not only did he translate and write various plays, he even taught for years as an Economics teacher at the Government college, Lahore and thereafter at the Lahore School Of Economics. He was a man of vast knowledge and endless inspiration for his students who loved him as their teacher.
Among his many talents, Shoaib was a singer, writer, actor, teacher and the list goes on. He passed his love of the Arts to his students, now veteran actors such as Arshad Mahmud and Salman Shahid.
2. Shoaib Hashmi’s Words Of Wisdom
Arshad Mahmud, a veteran actor and accomplished music composer remembers Shoaib Hashmi very fondly as his unforgettable teacher.
He disclosed that Shoaib Hashmi was never too ambitious but he was a passionate person who believed that the more a person desires, the lesser freedom they have.
3. Full Of Life And Love For Food
He is said to have loved the crisp patisas from the Amritsar sweet shop on Beadon Road, Murgh Chana from Mc Leod Road and Bundu Khan’s tikka and sooji halwa from Karachi.
Despite his love for food, he used to live by the philosophy of always eating with room for hunger.
4. People’s Calm To Their Storms
Shoaib Hashmi or “pappi” for his near and dear ones. Everybody who knew him spoke of Shoaib Hashmi’s down-to-earth, warm and simplistic conduct as the core of him!
Actor Nadia Jamil called him a ‘quintessential teacher’ and talked about his ability to speak and write beautifully.
Shoaib Hashmi’s family and hers were family friends and whenever she used to fight with her parents, she said Shoaib Hashmi was her shelter, safe house and the calm to her storm during her childhood.
5. Custodian Of The Arts And Traditions
Shoaib Hashmi translated a great many works of literature and art over his life. One of his greatest was a book dedicated to the great poet and his father in law’s work titled “A song for this day: 52 poems by Faiz Ahmed Faiz”
The mark luminaries such as Shoaib Hashmi leave on our country is unforgettable and one that is rare. We send our prayers to his family and loved ones who grapple with the loss of a lifetime.
Catch a moment with Shoaib Hashmi and company in the super nostalgic Sach Gup!
