Bid to save future of City's past

Ardeshir Cowasjee is a sole warrior, who is determined to protect the city and its lungs generally called open spaces and parks and playgrounds. He laments the way; authorities are depriving poor citizens of any breathing space. He is hence, a true crusader but his quest is not devoid of detractors; some people are deadly against him and pray for his demise day and night. He is a great survivor though he survives to see what is happening to his city its past and its present and he is out to defend it in his own way. Cowasjee indeed is a difficult fellow at 82; he cares for nobody except for this city. During this struggle, he suffered but he refused to budge. His craving for justice never dies; he demands nothing in return.

Once a powerful man with a mandate offered him to accept top position in Sindh, he politely declined. ‘ This is not my cup of tea.’ The man insisted and he even offered to spare him of protocol duty and frequent shuttle between Karachi and Islamabad but failed to convince stubborn Cowasjee. That night Cowasjee had a sound sleep.

That sleep reminds him of a midnight knock at his door during Bhutto era, when the first duly elected prime minister was all-powerful. His police arrested him when he was fast asleep and took him to central jail. It was three in the morning, various gates of the jail were locked and the jailer had the keys. Even prisoners were surprised who the man was to disturb them. Jail authorities were in a fix what to do with the late night prisoner. Finally, Cowasjee was lodged in jail hospital and to the shock of all he went to a deep slumber. That was Cowasjee, a hard nut to crack.

But his father Rustam had all the worries for his son after all he was a father. A way out was found to provide safe exit for relatively young Cowasjee. It was Wednesday February 11, 1976; he addressed his friend Bhutto as Mr Prime Minister and perhaps Bhutto’s ego was perhaps satisfied and the senior Cowasjee was happy to see his son back as any thing could have happened to him during incarceration.