Anonymous

A person who teaches your mind is called a teacher… what do you call a person who teaches you much beyond that…

Sir Nisar Mirza, a human being beautiful to the core of his heart and soul. Writing about him I feel lost of words, exactly the way my country has lost an asset, an icon in the field of photography and videography. I know many who read this have never heard of his name, what a pity that a person recognized internationally as being one of the best videographer and photographer of Pakistan died quietly on November 24, 2005 without any recognition. A part of Pakistan Television for decades, he not once was appreciated by the authorities as was his rightful due.
Sir Nisar had the eyes of an observer who captured images as though each one had a story that it whispered. He brought unspoken colors in his black and white photography and captured the scenes in a way that was every director’s dream.
His love for the camera was well known within those of us who proudly call themselves his students. He taught us what needed to be learned and in a manner that we will always remember for as long as our memories will abide. His ‘sardar ji’ jokes will always be recalled and the way he used laugh with his students would always be cherished, for there are very few who have the persona of life within themselves and what to speak of a man who was dignity and integrity complete, within those deep brown eyes.
Although the world and specially my country failed to recognize what they had, we the students of Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi are among those who had this honor of knowing a man who was the mere definition of self made and a complete description of a teacher not to mention a rightfully decent human being. His relation to God is known only to him, but his relation to the Gods creations was more than evident in his magnificent work. He was proud of what he had created and how right he was in being so, for every image, every scene spoke of experience, of his dexterity and of his delightful nature. Never was he seen without a smile and never was he around without a handful of his well wishers.
We lost what we can never gain. We lost what should have been found a long time ago. All that we are left with are memories and all that is left behind is his life’s achievements. If only someone would recognize what loss has occurred, if only someone would save many others from suffering the same fate.
I wish to remain anonymous for two reasons. One because those who knew him knew that I was never known to him, and those who know me do not know what regard I held for this magnificent human who has departed. And second, all that I have written is I am sure a cry from many hearts, especially his students.
May Allah bless his soul and may he spend his eternal life in the heavens that have been promised.
A name that will always be remembered by those who met him even once, a name that has left a mark on all those he ever taught, a name that is all there is left… Sir Nisar Mirza.