Marxist intellectual Rashad Mahmood remembered

Speakers at a condolence reference held at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday paid rich tributes to Marxist Rashad Mahmood who passed away on June 27 in Karachi.

The reference was organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and Friends of Rashad Mahmood. Speaking on the occasion, veteran journalist and human rights activist Hussain Naqi said the greatest tribute to the late communist would be to follow his path and carry on his legacy.

He highlighted that Mahmood never abandoned his work and remained steadfastly committed to his mission. Decrying our society’s tendency to ignore people committed to a cause, Naqi said people who understood the purpose of their lives and learned from their experience as well as books and passed on their knowledge to the next generation were not given due recognition. He called for recognising the people like the late Marxist.

HRCP Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt said Mahmood's articles were rooted in ground realities and he had a scientific approach to Marxism. He added that the late intellectual was not a hardliner as he would change his stance if he was convinced by counter-arguments.

"In a society like ours, which is a mix of feudalism and capitalism, having people like him was a great thing," Butt remarked. Recalling his interaction with Mahmood, he said the late Marxist thinker spoke softly but his words were impactful. "His words left a lasting impression on the heart."

The HRCP chairperson opined that revolution would come when the chains of capitalism would weaken. “We need to see how we can weaken those chains,” he added. Social activist Mahnaz Rahman said Mahmood might not have gone to Oxford or Harvard but he learnt from the Communist Party and study circles, and the articles he penned could be called folk wisdom. "He genuinely wanted to bring about a revolution and change society, and remained committed to it until the end."

She also asked the participants what should be done in the current oppressive era. "During discussions, we attribute all prevailing ills to capitalism, so I say, what should we do now?” Journalist Nazir Leghari, academic Dr Riaz Shaikh, Dr Syed Jaffer Ahmed, Sohail Sangi and others also spoke on the occasion.