Read on Twitter
Wanted to get personal for a moment and pay tribute to my single greatest inspiration: Professor Ahmed Ali.
Born 110 years ago on this date in Delhi, British India, Ali went on to have a massive literary career.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Ali_(writer)
He was my grandfather. I called him Baba.
Born 110 years ago on this date in Delhi, British India, Ali went on to have a massive literary career.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Ali_(writer)
He was my grandfather. I called him Baba.
As a writer, the breadth of Ali's work was staggering.
He did it all: novels, plays, short stories, poems, literary criticism.
His greatest works are probably Twilight in Delhi, a novel still studied today, and a critically acclaimed translation of the Qur'an into English.
He did it all: novels, plays, short stories, poems, literary criticism.
His greatest works are probably Twilight in Delhi, a novel still studied today, and a critically acclaimed translation of the Qur'an into English.
Even at home, Baba was a titan, one of those people whose influence on my paternal family was so huge that he was at the center of their world. He had his own imprint, Akrash Publishing, which still exists today and is run by my uncle Orooj.
For the brief time I knew him (until age 8), I understood just how beloved and accomplished he was.
One of my most vivid memories of him is him being awarded an honorary doctorate degree at the University of Karachi in our hometown of Karachi, Pakistan in 1992/93.
One of my most vivid memories of him is him being awarded an honorary doctorate degree at the University of Karachi in our hometown of Karachi, Pakistan in 1992/93.
I was 6, sitting in the crowd watching the ceremony and for the first time understood what writing or creativity could bring you.
The idea that all these people were at this ceremony just because he was a writer was amazing. He did this. My own journey started right there.
The idea that all these people were at this ceremony just because he was a writer was amazing. He did this. My own journey started right there.
As a grandfather, Baba was the best. Cool-headed and always caring. He didn't even get mad at me the time I tore a page out of a copy of one of his books.
He also believed in me young and told my aunt or uncle about my potential to be a writer, which was a huge compliment.
He also believed in me young and told my aunt or uncle about my potential to be a writer, which was a huge compliment.
One summer, when my birthday was coming up and my aunt was still at work, I really wanted to see the presents I knew she had bought me before it was my actual birthday.
I knew where they were, somewhere in a cabinet in her bedroom.
I knew where they were, somewhere in a cabinet in her bedroom.
Baba and I quietly unlocked the cabinet in her room and carefully unwrapped some gifts to find the incredible Batman Returns toys pictured here.
I looked at them and played with them (in the box) then we wrapped them up before she came home. That's how cool Baba was.
I looked at them and played with them (in the box) then we wrapped them up before she came home. That's how cool Baba was.
When Baba died in January '94, my family was shattered. I remember around the time of his funeral, I had never seen so many people in/outside our home before or ever since. It was a strange time.
I felt cold without him around, like something was off without him in the room.
I felt cold without him around, like something was off without him in the room.
