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Chef Fatima Ali laid to rest by family and friends in Lahore

Chef Fatima Ali laid to rest by family and friends in Lahore

The chef had been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer
02 Feb, 2019

Family and friends of Fatima Ali, the renowned Pakistani-American chef, laid her to rest in the Bagh-i-Rehmat graveyard, Bedian Road, here on Friday.

Fatima was a contestant in the American cooking competition, Top Chef, and though she did not win, she had emerged as a ‘fan favourite’. She was the daughter of Ashtar Ausaf Ali, a former attorney general, and Farazeh Durrani, a prominent educationalist.

Several members of the judiciary, including former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, incumbent CJP Asif Saeed Khosa, judges of the high court and Supreme Court, eminent political personalities, including Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Zaeem Qadri and Parvez Malik, attended her funeral prayers.

In various interviews, Fatima had disclosed that she was interested in exploring indigenous and local Pakistani ingredients, produce and techniques. She had hoped to one day open up kitchens in Pakistan with the aim to reduce food insecurity and hunger in the country by providing affordable meals for anyone who could pay, and free for the less fortunate.

The young chef had felt a strong desire to change the global perception of Pakistan by introducing the country’s culture to the world through food. She was working on her own restaurant in the US. As a chef, she began learning the art at the age of six. She was popularly known to showcase diverse elements of Pakistani cuisine in her food. In Top Chef, she often used to infuse striking flavours and spices of her homeland.

However, before her plans could materialise, she was diagnosed in 2017 with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, usually seen in children. Although she underwent surgery to remove a tumour in her shoulder bone after which she announced that she was “technically cancer-free”. But in an emotional social media post in October, she announced that her cancer was “back with a vengeance”.

In an essay published on the Bon Appetit magazine’s website after her death, Fatima wrote about how she felt as well as what she intended to do with her last year of life. Her wish was to visit some of the top restaurants across the world whose chefs had inspired her over the years; she wanted to taste delicious ingredients from Europe and other parts of the world and was even invited by celebrity chef Rene Redzepi to his restaurant in Copenhagen.

In the essay, she said she wanted to spend her last days “making the most of life” rather than spending her time “lamenting”.

She had also initiated a campaign to help fund her adventures and also contribute to research on Ewing’s Sarcoma. After she had passed away, her family uploaded an official statement on her Instagram account.

“Though she’s no longer here with us, her spirit will continue to steer us,” read a line from the statement. “This has been a truly humbling experience for us all and even in her last chapter as she began to leave us, Fatima showed us how we should live.”

Originally published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2019

Comments

Asma T Ali Feb 02, 2019 04:05pm
Rest in Peace, Fatima.
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Majid Feb 02, 2019 04:38pm
RIP Fatima Ali.
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Adeel Loane Feb 02, 2019 05:10pm
Rest In Peace.
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Sheraz Feb 02, 2019 05:55pm
May her soul rest in eternal peace!!
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Zak Feb 02, 2019 06:00pm
Our prayers for such a beautiful Pakistani in soul and mind. Our prayers will always be with you.
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Zak Feb 02, 2019 06:02pm
‘The young chef had felt a strong desire to change the global perception of Pakistan by introducing the country’s culture to the world through food.’ A noble aim and coubtrys prayers with you always.
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ahmad Feb 02, 2019 06:18pm
Rest In Peace. gone too soon
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AZAM AKBAR Feb 02, 2019 06:25pm
Rest In Peace.
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braingain Feb 02, 2019 06:46pm
RIP princess
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Indie Guy Feb 02, 2019 06:56pm
RIP. She was a good role model Pakistani Muslim women.
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Ehsan Feb 02, 2019 09:17pm
Rest In Peace our shining star
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Nate Feb 02, 2019 09:20pm
Let me create a conspiracy here, a Pakistani celebrity was doing great and had positive views for Pakistan, maybe someone made sure she didn't get to live long enough to bring prosperity in Pakistan? A rare form of disease found in kids, what are the odds?
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ahmed Feb 02, 2019 09:29pm
R.I.P Fatima. You were a great soul.
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SivaD Feb 02, 2019 10:04pm
What a hero!
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Saifuddin Takhtawala Feb 02, 2019 10:21pm
So sad to see such a talented young girl to go. Rest in peace Fatima. Our prayers are with you.
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Big bear Feb 03, 2019 12:47am
Such a beautiful soul never dies .
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Kamran Shahzad Feb 03, 2019 12:56am
Inna lilahi wa inna lilahi rajioon, Rest in peace Fatima.....
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Mustafa Feb 03, 2019 01:03am
Rest in peace Fatima.
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UHD Feb 03, 2019 01:15am
A brave girl who was in a very high spirit till end . RIP.
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Vijay B Feb 03, 2019 02:08am
I did not know of Fatima Ali, but after reading this article about her made me feel extremely sad, and nothing but affection and respect for this rarest of the rare human beings who left us at such a young age. "Badi mushkil se hota hai chaman mein deedavar paida." " insaaniyat ka ek anmol sitaara is duniya se lut gaya hai" Hindu or Muslim, Indian or Pakistani is of no consequence, she was one of the rare gems of humanity as a family.
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Dr. Syed Imam Feb 03, 2019 05:36am
What a talent this amazing person was. May she rest in peace.
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Suresh Feb 03, 2019 08:27am
Very sad and unfortunate... Very young to die.. Pray almighty to give strength to her family to overcome this tragedy..
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satish kolli Feb 03, 2019 08:41am
Rest in peace, Fatima.
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Peter Feb 03, 2019 09:02am
Very sad story of a young life that ended. So much promise went in an untimely manner.
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Zafar Ahmed Feb 03, 2019 10:38am
Rest in Peace, Fatima.
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Sameera Feb 03, 2019 10:57am
إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
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Waheed A. Tunio Feb 04, 2019 01:46pm
Rest in Peace!
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Love thy neighbour Feb 05, 2019 04:28am
When I saw Fatima in the "Chopped" series in US, I was pleasantly surprised that she was a Pakistani . In one of the rounds, she was supplied with Pork to make the dish and I thought she would drop out. But she took that challenge and while presenting the dish she said I don't know how it would taste but the judges liked it and she won the prize. Young lady with amazing talent, but left this world very early. RIP Fatima. Amen.
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