Obituary: Arthur J. Pais – 1950-2016.

By Sujeet Rajan

Veteran Indian American journalist Arthur J. Pais died in New Jersey, last Friday, January 8, 2016, after a brief illness. He was 66. He leaves behind his wife Betty.

Arthur Pais was an editor at Rediff.com and India Abroad newspaper. After a distinguished career in Indian journalism, Pais and his wife Betty moved to the United States in the early 1980s, according to Rediff.com.

I knew Arthur Pais before I met him, through his bylines in India Abroad newspaper and India in New York newspaper. I began editing The Indian Express North American edition, in New York, summer of 2001. The one Indian-origin journalist who impressed me the most as I went through some of the local Indian weeklies to get an immediate handle on the city’s diaspora issues was Arthur Pais.

Arthur Pais was in one word: voluminous.

He had a mind-boggling grasp of diaspora issues in the city and in the US, especially all things arts, books, food, travel and cultural-related. It seemed he knew every miniscule of South Asian affairs, nothing escaped his detection. It was hard to get an exclusive piece out on the desi cultural sphere before he did too.

Anybody who has an eye for bylines – mostly journalists themselves – would be struck by the amount of indefatigable work Arthur Pais did, week after week, month after month, year after year, almost with frenetic passion. Pages upon pages of the tabloids India Abroad and India in New York flowed seamlessly, almost in astonishing manner, with his bylines.

Perhaps India in New York should have been better known as ‘Arthur Pais’ India in New York’ or better yet ‘Mr. India in New York’. It really belonged to him.

Most importantly, all the countless stories, features, interviews and reviews Arthur Pais did over the years had also remarkable aspects readers and peers respect most: they were impeccable in detail, written with passion, with a flair for words, yet always interesting, drawing in readers to the myriad aspects of desi news.

A new world sprouted and flowered every week with the works of Arthur Pais. Countless newcomers who made headlines or were hoping to, veteran artists, writers, chefs and such, are going to be forever in gratitude for bringing them and their world to the notice of readers.

I never got to know Arthur Pais well, even hardly knew him as an acquaintance. In fact, in my more than 15 years of covering New York City, I met Arthur Pais perhaps a dozen times. It seemed he did his remarkable work in almost subterfuge manner, shying away from the glamorous world of society parties which I was habituated to, but getting the in-depth interviews and features that really mattered and enlightened readers.

The first time I met him, at a gala, I was elated, told him that I admired him for his work. He was humble, gave me a warm smile, and then asked me about myself. We had a good chat that evening. I mostly listened. That evening, he was the most interesting person in the room for me.

Over the years, I saw him a few more times, at some film-related roundtable conversations, exhibitions at art galleries, a launch party or two. Whenever I did see Arthur Pais at an event, I braced myself. I knew that the pressure was on to produce good copy as he would undoubtedly do some in-depth work. Arthur Pais made better journalists of all who admired and tried to emulate him.

A prominent aspect of Arthur Pais was his travel-related writing. Every year, it seemed Pais would choose with great relish a country he would travel to. Once there, he seemed to scour the streets for that desi niche in that particular part of the world, be it a popular city or the boondocks. He would then send in voluminous reports with succulent details of his interactions, observations.

I could almost imagine Arthur Pais wandering around a city in Europe or South America day-long, searching for those elements of Indian life which are unique to every city, and then coming back to his hotel room, writing on his laptop with perhaps a glass of wine beside him; filing those reports to grateful editors back in New York.

It was just remarkable dedication to his calling in life, passion for his profession. Journalism students would benefit greatly to study the life and works of Arthur Pais: journalism is not just a profession, it’s a state of the mind, 24X7.

Arthur Pais was also very diverse in his writing.

Amongst his many remarkable works were numerous pieces on immigration-related issues. A few years ago, he traveled with India Abroad staff photographer Paresh Gandhi to the borders of the US, filed some incisive pieces on the state of illegal immigration that hounded the nation.

I could only wish that Arthur Pais had done at least a Khushwant Singh act and lived for 99 years. He, however, chose to depart some three decades less than that. It’s an irreplaceable loss, especially at a time when long-form journalism is disappearing, replaced by the world of listicles. One thing is for sure: Indian journalism in the US will never see the like of another Arthur Pais.

I don’t have any copies of India Abroad newspaper at home with Arthur Pais’ bylines in it. I would love to remember him through a book he’s written, or a compilation of his travel writings. Put it away on a shelf, pick it some years later again, go through it. I hope India Abroad brings out a work of Pais later, in a book form.

Farewell Mr. Arthur Pais. I wish you all the best, Sir. Rest in peace.

Here are some condolences released by Rediff.com on the death of Arthur Pais:

Salman Rushdie: “This is sad news indeed. My condolences to his family and to all of you, his colleagues. Thanks for letting me know.”

Madhur Jaffrey: “Very sad to hear the news.”

Aseem Chhabra, Rediff.com columnist and contributor: “Today I lost a man who was my first real friend in America. Arthur Pais was a real support to me during my early days as a journalist in New York. He loved films and we bonded on classics, filmy gossip and old Bollywood songs.

“Later, at a time when I had given up journalism, Arthur again opened up my world to writing and reporting, and gave me the opportunity to become a better journalist.

“I went for my first film interview with Arthur Pais. Well, he was going to interview Pagli Ji (aka Mira Nair) and I begged him to let me tag along with him. I told him I would pretend I was his photographer.

“It was 1983 and I had just finished Columbia J School. The interview was about Mira’s documentary So Far From India. I had seen the film at MoMA and had loved it.

“We went to Mira’s apartment on the UWS — I think it was on 118th and Amsterdam. Three of us ended up having such fun conversations. And I loved the idea of talking to a filmmaker soon after I had seen her film.

“And that’s how I started writing about films. Arthur opened up this world for me.

“I will miss him!

Mira Nair, Director: “Arthur Pais was wonderful warm and memorable…”

Arun Venugopal, Correspondent, PBS: “Arthur J Pais, a dear friend and my first journalism mentor died today.

“I received the news from a former coworker at India Abroad/Rediff, where I worked with Arthur, years ago. A lot of you would’ve seen his byline, and maybe were even interviewed by him for the first time in your life, when your book had just been published or your film was about to be released — he was an insanely prolific and passionate writer who took great pleasure in exposing new voices to the world.

“He was also kind of a nut — a character like no one I’ve ever met, who knew the most obscure and salacious details about Bollywood screen legends, about writers and editors, and New York itself, the city as it once was, unvarnished and vulgar and ripe with possibility.

“We could be dirty around each other, and took great delight in each other’s inappropriate thoughts, and when I left for public radio it made me sad to think I was leaving that behind, and him.

“He believed in our craft and, most importantly, in those of us who were entering into it.

Sree Sreenivasan, Chief Digital Officer, Metropolitan Museum of Art: “RIP, ARTHUR PAIS, journalist, friend and mentor to so many in the NYC and SAJA worlds.

“He had been ill for a long time and is in a better place now.

“My prayers for his soul and his soulmate, Betty.

“He was so quiet, so kind, so generous. Anytime I needed help or SAJA needed help, he would jump at the opportunity. But he was often keen that he not be acknowledged in any way.

“A fun, wonderful man who loved writing, cooking, eating and listening to music, both Western and Indian. And he knew more about all of those than almost anyone I know.

“During the dot-com boom, I was approached by a VC to help create a smart web publication for Indian Americans. The VC wanted a veteran editor to run things and I recommended Arthur and he launched the publication. Unfortunately, it died soon after because of the dot-com bust. Arthur never complained about it to or expressed anger about the situation he took it all in stride, just like everything else.

“In 1999, he, along with our friends, Aseem Chhabra, Megha Bhouraskar and others, helped me launch the Old Filmi Music Club (an occasional gathering of lovers of old Bollywood — filmi, in Hinglish — music where we sing songs and eat a potluck dinner). Hundreds of folks have attended these in NYC over the years and I reckon we need to gather again in Arthur’s honor soon!

“We all get busy and lose touch with people we should not — am sorry to say that I wasn’t in touch these last couple of years, only seeing him and Betty at the India Abroad annual gala. If there’s someone in your life you haven’t called or connected with in a while, please use this as a reminder to do so.

“Two words for you, Arthur: THANK YOU.

Lavina Melwani, Journalist: “Today the New York community lost one of its strongest voices — journalist Arthur J Pais of India Abroad. Very sad to hear this unexpected news.

“Arthur was the story-teller of our community. He had looked increasingly frail in recent years, but his writing was always strong, top-notch, be it on any subject.

“My thoughts and prayers are with Betty and the family. I wish them peace and strength at this time.”

Deepa Iyer, Social Activist: “I have such fond memories of Arthur. He used to call us at SAALT often for the “other side” of the story as he would often say. He traveled to many of our events to cover them.

“I remember having a conversation with him outside the gurdwara in Oak Creek a week after the massacre there. He was always on the ground, quite literally — he didn’t want to just report via phone or remotely. He cared deeply about our communities.”

Sandip Roy, Author: “Ohhh how sad to hear this. I met him many times and he was always so fun. He also did some of the first stories on LGBT South Asians when no one else touched that issue.

“He helped define Indian-American journalism for many of us. He mentored many. And he gave coverage with compassion to issues many in the Indian community shied away from like LGBT issues.

“Years ago Trikone honoured him with an award for that which he received with such humility and warmth. I am glad we got to thank him.”

Anurag Harsh, Musician: “Rest in Peace Arthur. I can never forget that cold January evening in New York, 9 years ago when you took the trouble to talk to me and conduct that beautiful interview a couple months before my first ever Carnegie Hall concert, and the subsequent lovely two column spread that you had written — one of the finest articles every penned about me in media. Thank you Arthur and May Your Soul Rest in Peace.”

Toby Chaudhuri, Vice-President, PBS: “A gap in the world and great loss.”

Vijay Iyer, Jazz musician: “Sad news. Rest in peace.”

Suparn Verma, director: “The first time I read @StephenKing I was 13, it was a world without the Internet. Took me a year and one day an article appeared in the Sunday Observer. I saw the byline. It read Arthur Pais. I visualised an exotic white man writing for an Indian paper.

“Many years later I was working @Rediff.com and I met the man in person. This lovely, kindhearted and helpful soul. It was my fanboy moment. I still have the paper cutting.

We interacted over the years on work and despite being sick last year he helped me during my trip to Los Angeles. Today he is no more.

Dear Arthur, I will always be your fanboy. Love, Suparn”

Chidanand Rajghatta, The Times of India’s Foreign Editor in Washington, DC: Legend — of our times, in our community. Thoughts with his family at this time for strength and a celebration of his memories.”

(Sujeet Rajan is Editor-in-chief, The American Bazaar).