Salima Hashmi: Beyond the Legacy of Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Salima Hashmi, the eldest daughter of renowned Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, is an acclaimed painter, curator and art educator who has spent decades shaping Pakistan’s art. She taught at the National College of Arts in Lahore for 30 years, including four years as its principal, and later became the founding Dean of the School of Visual Arts and Design at Beaconhouse National University. Beyond her father’s literary legacy, Hashmi has established a distinguished identity through her contributions to art, education, and cultural advocacy.

Early Life and Artistic Journey 

Born in New Delhi in 1942, Salima Hashmi grew up in a household shaped by literature and artistic expression. She completed her early art education at the National College of Arts (NCA) in Lahore before continuing her studies at the Bath Academy of Art in England and the Rhode Island School of Design in the United States.

Before beginning her teaching career, Hashmi worked with the BBC World Service in the late 1960s. She joined the NCA faculty in 1970 and later served as its Principal from 1995 to 1999. In 1999, she received the Pride of Performance Award in recognition of her contributions. Her public presence also extended to television, where she appeared in popular children’s programmes during the 1970s. 

The Memoirs Behind Her Legacy

Salima Hashmi’s memoirs offer a personal account of the experiences that shaped her identity as an artist, educator and cultural figure in Pakistan. The first volume, Waiting in the Wings, co-written with Maryam Hasan and published by Viking in India, covers the first 25 years of her life against the backdrop of Pakistan’s early decades. It explores her family life and the social and political changes of a young nation.

The second volume, Enter Stage Left, follows her journey through the Zia-ul-Haq era, focusing on her involvement in art and activism. Together, the two books provide insight into the personal experiences and historical circumstances behind her contributions to Pakistan’s artistic and cultural landscape. They also add another dimension to her legacy, documenting not only the work she has produced and the artists she has influenced, but also the experiences and convictions that have shaped her public life.

Does Hardship Make Better Art?

Salima Hashmi believes difficult circumstances can give art greater urgency. Artists, writers, poets, actors, and musicians often reflect society’s struggles and give voice to experiences that might otherwise go unheard. Their work can document social realities and challenge prevailing conditions. However, meaningful art is not limited to times of hardship; creativity also flourishes in periods of stability.

Finding Truth Through Courage and Sincerity

In a conversation with the Asia Society in New York, Salima Hashmi encouraged young people to ‘speak your truth, understand your truth, and show your courage’. Reflecting on the responsibility of one generation towards another, she acknowledged that her generation had left young people a difficult world to navigate. For Hashmi, understanding one’s truth is a lifelong process. She admitted that she still questions whether she has found her own, emphasizing that sincerity of purpose is essential to this journey.

To conclude, Hashmi’s journey reflects a lasting commitment to art, education and cultural expression. Through her work, memoirs and reflections, she documents Pakistan’s artistic history while encouraging younger generations to approach their own paths with courage, self-understanding, and sincerity.

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