MY
FATHER, (MON H’EROS)
Khan Isa Ghaznavi born in 1914 in a religious family of
Delhi India, to Moosa Khan and Sakina bibi. He was brought up in Delhi, did his
munshi fazil. From his teen years, he started writing both prose and poetry. In
his early 20’s he developed interest in Indian film industry and show biz. Went
to Bombay stayed there for a while then came back to Delhi in 1937 and started
publishing a magazine covering Indian film industry by the name of FilmLight.
In a very short time the magazine became one of the most known filmi magazine
and got the reputation of a star-maker. Beside this magazine he played a major
role in the launch and establishment of magazine Shama India, weekly film
newspapers Nigar and daily Jang from India.
He got married to his first time cousin Jamila Begum in 1946
few months before partition and thus started a beautiful family. Had 7
children, one of whom didn’t survive long.
With the creation of Pakistan, came migration-and it was a
horrifying train journey that he undertook along with his mother wife and other
family members from Delhi crossing Indian Punjab where their train was attacked
by Sikhs who butchered many people and burnt the train but luckily the family
succeeded in reaching Lahore safely.
In Lahore the whole family took shelter in a majestic
building of that time called Geeta Bhawan in one of most famous area of Lakshmi
chowk, which had most of the Cinema Halls and offices of film production
houses.
Here I would like to highlight a remarkable coincidence - the
office which Isa Khan took possession of belonged to a Sikh publication house under
the name of Jhollay Lal and few years after independence the Sikh owner of
Jhollay Lal came to Lahore to see his office and in utter surprise and shock he
told Isa Khan that the office which he had taken possession of, when he reached
Delhi is that of FilmLight. In 1948 Isa Khan started the publication of
FilmLight and in no time it became the voice of Pakistan Film industry. The
appearance of a picture of any actor or actress on the front page of FilmLight
meant a boast in the popularity of that actor or actress. Isa Khan was not only
the proprietor, editor and publisher of that magazine but also use to write
many articles and poetic write-up in the Magazine. He was literally the maker
and breaker of actors and actresses from 1955 to 1970. Just one review in his
magazine would change the mindset of his readers which was in thousands. After
the death of his father in early seventies he diverted his writing and magazine
style to semi political and religious.
Being a true nationalist he participated and led the Jaal
agitation which was aimed towards closure of Indian films in Pakistan and was
arrested along with Santosh Kumar, Shaukat Hussain Rizvi, Sibtain Fazli and
W.Z.Ahmed. He also vehemently opposed the screening of “Ten Commandments” in
Pakistan condemning it as anti-Islamic. Finally he closed down the FilmLight
magazine in 1973.
Beside this magazine he wrote many books both in prose and
poetry, out of which his “Untalees Qadam”Thirty-Nine Steps was a master piece.
He provided his children with best possible education ,
looked after their needs and was always there to guide & mentor them.
As a son, my first memory of him was of a nice fragrance. He
was very fond of perfumes and beside perfume he loved the smell of chanbali and
motia and never entered the house without carrying garlands of these flower in
their season and I remember my mother always kept these flowers wrapped in a
wet cloth on my father’s bed side. He had a classy attire - mostly dressed up
in white starched cotton pants with white shirts and white Winklepickers/
Cambridge/ Oxford style pointed toe shoes. He carried silver Pan Case filled
with his pans, a cigarette pack and a white handkerchief all drenched in
perfume. He was a much disciplined person with a class of his own. A real smart
and dashing personality, I honestly was always mesmerised by his aura, he
carried himself like a nawab. We all called him Issa-Abu n though I was an
introvert, a quiet child, yet we had an odd yet beautiful connection we
understood each other in our own ways…. The thing that I tried to learn the
most from my father was his sense of integrity, he always did the right thing
even if everyone was opposing which defined his strong character.
He was a person with a big heart, was very religious and he
never let anyone go away from his door empty handed. He treated all his cousins
and other family members as his own family and was always there in their hour
of need. He was a firm believer of the doctrine that God would give you more if
you spend. He believed in giving the best possible education and necessities of
life to his kids and family and never believed in savings.
He was a short-tempered person and for the right things
would get bitter at times.
As a result of all these factors he was highly esteemed by
his family, his cousins, their kids and even by some elders .The family
respected him a lot and often accepted his decisions without any argument
saying “if ISA says so it is okay ”.
He enjoyed the status of defecto head of his cousins and
their families.
Coming back to his practical life after the closure of his
magazine his love and association with film industry compelled him to start a
film production house in partnership with a friend of his and in 7-8 years’
time they produced many films of which “”Aag” was a great hit.
However, the diagnosis of throat cancer in early 80 jolted
him badly besides his health too started deteriorating and he left the
materialistic life and turned all his devotion and time towards Islam and
Allah. He started reading Quran, it’s Translation and Tafseer, Hadeeses and
started his own writings on Islam combining the Quran and Ahadeeses together on
certain topics. Confined himself mostly to his room which started turning into
a Islamic library.
He was a father who loved his kids a lot and believed that
instead of leaving property or bank balance it was better to give them best
possible education.
Finally, in the mid 90’s he was diagnosed with abdominal
cancer that restricted his movements. He was taken to Lahore from Karachi in
February 1996 where the family migrated in 1988. In Lahore he got hospitalized
in May and after fighting a valiant battle against cancer he died on 4th July
1996, I was the lucky one who was holding his hands at the time he breathed his
last and now I have a feeling that while he was dying he shifted lot of his…
So he died as a man who lived an extremely vibrant life, who
enjoyed each and every moment of his life and Alhamdulillah I have a firm
belief that In Sha Allah he must be enjoying his heavenly abode “Jannat ul
Firdous “because he never hurt any human being and reverted back to religion
very strongly in the last 10-15 years of life. He surely lived a life of a
successful person and that is quite evident as Masha Allah each and every child
of his is not only enjoying a completely successful life but Masha Allah has
achieved glories in the life which Allah grants to few thus his task as a
father accomplished successfully.
In the last I would like to mention that he always wished
that when he would die his funeral should be attended by the ruler of the
country. He was buried in Lahore near his mother’s grave not only in the
presence of many people but was lucky enough that his funeral was attended by
entire family of then Prime minister of Pakistan, Chief Minister of Punjab,
many Senators, MNAs and MPAs along with top Government officials and
businessmen of Pakistan.
Today it’s his 24th death anniversary and he is not with us
physically for last 24 years but I can say it with firm belief that he has
never been away from any of his children. He never was and never would be. He
along with our mother would always be there in our each and every prayer on all
happy and sad occasions and in every decision of ours. We miss both our parents
a lot but at the same time are surely happy and contended that they are at a
far better place.
We all miss you ISA Abu.
Yes we do.
Allah (SWT) aapki maghfarat farmaye aur aap ka shumaar apney
behtreen logon main karey.
(Aameen Summa Aameen).
By: ovais asad khan
(Loving Son)
