Adil Najam
I did not know Asim Butt.
Except through the excellent review of his art done by Raza Rumi and carried by us at ATP in July 2008, and through the ‘Eject’ sign graffiti that because popular in many civil society circles during the last days of Gen Musharraf’s government. But hearing today that he has died in what may be a suicide has left me down and dejected.
It is partly because a person of such obvious talent and great potential, someone with a strong political conscience and a desire and the ability to act on that conscience, and someone so young (“in the prime of his life” as we Pakistanis say) is no more. But it is also the way he has departed. Or chosen to depart. All death leaves one speechless for a minute. Suicide leaves one even more dumbstruck.
If it was a case of suicide, I do not know why he would do so. Frankly, I am not very eager to find out either. I have no interest in the morbid voyerism of digging into potentially scandalous stories that lurk in the shadows of human tragedy.
I just know that a young man who could have done so much and had real impact, has chosen to end his life.
That, I know, is a tragedy. A tragedy not only for the family and friends of Asim Butt – to whom we offer our condolences and prayers of strength in this time of trial. It is a tragedy, also, for all of us.
How can the needless loss of a 31 year old man not be a tragedy? No matter who the person was and no matter what the circumstances.
P.S. A wonderful tribute to the activism of Asim Butt has also been written by Teeth Maestro at his blog (here).
I was lucky enough to meet and know Asim .
There was never a dull moment when Asim was around. He seemed to challenge everyone and everything around him with his immensely real and profound sense of selfhood . He was a strange , remarkably curious , wildly imaginative and gifted young man . It is with a very heavy heart that I read of his loss. He will be genuinely missed. May God rest his soul in peace, amen.
RIP Asim
A sad story. I did not know him or his work before reading this. But it is the loss of a precious life. For some reason I have been depressed all day since hearing this.
Thank you ATP for dealing with a difficult issue and a loss with such sensitive words.
May he rest in peace.
i didnt know him personally but i loved his work..
can anyone please tell me what happened to him and how and when? and where?
I never met Asim but I knew him for a long time now. He was not only a great artist he was also a wonderful human being. He was kind hearted, loving, and caring.