Salima Hashmi recounts her school days, family dynamics, and a cherished film outing with her father.
Salima Hashmi shares a glimpse into her childhood, marked by both academic challenges and memorable family moments. The revelation of her academic success in the Matriculation exam surprised her father, who had offered to buy her a gold watch if she achieved a First Division. When she called to share her good news, his astonishment was palpable. Despite her lack of interest in school, the gold watch became a treasured symbol of her father’s belief in her potential.
Hashmi describes her early education experiences, which began in a nursery shortly after her family’s migration from India around 1947. Her transition to the Convent of Jesus and Mary was marked by tears, a pattern that continued throughout her schooling. She was eventually transferred to Queen Mary College, a prestigious institution at the time, where she found herself crying yet again. The emotional distress of being uprooted and placed in a new environment weighed heavily on her.
As her father faced incarceration, financial constraints forced her to change schools once more. Though she was past the age of crying, her disdain for school intensified, leading her to craft elaborate excuses to avoid attending classes. Hashmi’s mother, concerned about her daughter’s reluctance, labeled her a malingerer. Eventually, the obligation to attend school became unavoidable, but Hashmi felt out of place and struggled academically, despite performing adequately.
Throughout her school years, however, a few inspiring teachers made the experience somewhat bearable. A particular fondness for physics emerged in ninth grade, thanks to a dedicated science teacher, Miss Quirk. Additionally, her Farsi teacher, Sikander Rizvi, captivated her interest in the language, enhancing her appreciation for Urdu literature. Miss Wilson, who taught history, also played a significant role in making school life more tolerable for Hashmi.
Amidst these challenges, Hashmi found success in a declamation contest, representing Kinnaird High School. With her mother’s encouragement and relentless practice, she surprised herself by winning the competition, a feat that garnered her a prize of books, which held great value at the time. The headmistress, Miss Nixon, questioned the appropriateness of her chosen art books, perceiving them as unsuitable. Despite the initial resistance, Hashmi defended her choices, ultimately securing the books that would enrich her artistic journey.
Hashmi reflects on her shy disposition and penchant for daydreaming during her school years. Her mother often nudged her to engage more socially, hoping to combat her reticence. A memorable experience from this period involves her father taking her to see the film Barsaat at the Rivoli Cinema. Despite initial worries that he had forgotten their outing, the joy of arriving in time to witness the film’s first song remains vivid in her memory, encapsulating the warmth of her relationship with her father during her childhood.
