LONDON: Veteran creator, broadcaster and journalist Syed Rashid Ashraf, identified for his lengthy affiliation with BBC Urdu, handed away early on Saturday morning at his residence within the Bromley space of London. He was 91.
Mr Ashraf joined BBC Urdu within the 60s and remained related to the publication even after retirement, mentoring younger journalists.
Born in 1932 in Delhi, Mr Ashraf did his Bachelor of Arts from Dyal Singh Faculty and accomplished his Grasp of Arts (MA) in journalism from Punjab College in 1961. Earlier than his journalism diploma, Mr Ashraf labored as an interpreter on the Basic Headquarters in Rawalpindi. He pursued journalism for just a few years, then labored in public relations. In 1966, Mr Ashraf moved to London with the BBC Urdu service, which marked the start of his three-decade-long profession in broadcasting.
His BBC colleagues have fond reminiscences of him and describe the late broadcaster as a person who was not solely a guru, grasp orator, linguist and storyteller, but in addition a very good pal and a gentleman.
Colleagues recall fond reminiscences of ‘a guru, grasp orator, linguist and storyteller’
BBC’s Hussain Askari recollects a useful piece of recommendation Mr Ashraf gave to him that he’ll always remember. “After we had been new to the service, our editor Mohammad Hanif advised us about Rashid sahab and stated he can provide us broadcasting suggestions. Rashid sahab advised me to return to the studio with my script so he can hear my supply. He then gave me a very powerful suggestions of my life.”
“He stated,” Mr Askari continued, “my voice and supply are nice. However then he stated, ‘when you find yourself talking, don’t communicate as in case you are broadcasting a speech to hundreds of thousands of individuals. Communicate as in case your mother and father, a pal or a sibling is standing in entrance of you as in case you are telling the story to 1 particular person. It must be a conversational tone’.”
Mr Askari stated the recommendation was “on the forefront of his thoughts” when he offered information. “Despite the fact that he was very senior, his perspective in direction of new journalists was pleasant and affectionate. He taught us a lot.”
Arif Shamim at BBC recollects an inside joke shared between him and the late broadcaster. “I got here to London from Punjab, so my kaaf and qaaf weren’t at all times clear. He would inform me, ‘Bhai Arif, I want to repair your qaaf and kaaf’.”
Mr Shamim stated that although it’s customary to reward those that have handed away, within the case of Mr Ashraf, “nobody spoke sick of him”.
“He was very disciplined and even at this age, he would rehearse his programmes. He was the one one who would truly rehearse his strains and script. Usually, BBC seniors wouldn’t go within the studio for rehearsals.”
About his voice and supply, Mr Shamim stated his mentor’s “Urdu was glorious and supply was a factor of magnificence”.
Sharing an anecdote that confirmed Mr Ashraf’s dedication to his work, Mr Shamim pointed to a group of letters featured on the BBC in a 2020 story that had been written some 50 years in the past in a writing competitors titled ‘What Will the World be Like 50 Years From Now’.
“That is the type of particular person Rashid sahab was. He saved these letters for 50 years.”
The letters had been well-preserved and saved in Mr Ashraf’s attic, and have become the premise of a narrative.
Former BBC present affairs producer Durdana Ansari, for whom Mr Ashraf shortly went from a colleague to a father determine, stated, “I really feel like I’ve misplaced my father, my greatest pal for the second time… he was the pillar of my life. We had a 30-year affiliation as I used to be a junior within the BBC Urdu service. Everybody revered him. He was one of the crucial humble folks.”
“He had a wealth of data. You identify it [and he knew it]. [Ranging from] historical past, faith and literature to music. Any question one got here up with, he had a solution, an answer,” Ms Ansari advised Daybreak. Based on the BBC, he’s survived by his spouse Kishwar; three daughters, Ainee, Munazzah and Bushra; granddaughters and “scores of associates and well-wishers”.
Printed in Daybreak, March nineteenth, 2023
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