LETTER FROM DR DEREK HARGRAVE-THE WYNBERG ALLEN SOCIETY, ENGLAND ON THE PASSING ON OF ALWYNIAN SAEED JAFFREY
Peter Carlyle
Dear Peter,
It is my sad duty to Inform you that Saeed Jaffrey, who passed out of Wynberg-Allen in 1944 died from a brain hemorrhage at his home in London on Sunday.
Saeed Jaffrey, OBE, was an Indian-born British actor who appeared in numerous British and Indian movies. He died in London on the 15th of November 2015 at the age of 87.
Saeed Jaffrey was born in Malerkotla, Punjab, to a Punjabi Muslimfamily. Jaffrey attended Minto Circle at Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, before going on to Wynberg-Allen School, Mussoorie. He passed out of Wynberg-Allen in 1944, achieving second place in the final examinations to Stanley Downes who was the School Captain. He continued his education at St. George's College, Mussoorie, where he Matriculated and then finally completed his studies at Allahabad University. He later studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and was awarded a post-graduate degree, in drama, by The Catholic University of America.
He began his career by setting up a theatre company called Unity Theatre, at New Delhi. His early theatrical work included roles in productions of Tennessee Williams, Christopher Fry, Wilde, andShakespeare. He gained a Fulbright scholarship in the United States, leading to a second post-graduate degree in drama from The Catholic University of America. His first wife was the actress and TV chefMadhur Jaffrey (divorced 1965). They have three daughters Meera, Zia, and Sakina Jaffrey, who is also an actress.
He was the first Indian to take Shakespearean plays on a tour to theUnited States. He also served as the Radio Director (1951–1956) for All India Radio and Director of Publicity and Advertising at theGovernment of India Tourist Office, U.S (1958–1960).
His film credits include The Man Who Would Be King (1975),Shatranj Ke Khiladi (The Chess Players) (1977), Gandhi (1982), A Passage to India (1965 BBC version and 1984 film), The Far Pavilions(1984), The Razor's Edge (1984), and My Beautiful Laundrette (1985). He has also appeared in many Bollywood films in the 1980s and 1990s.
For television he starred in Gangsters (1975–1978), The Jewel in the Crown (1984), Tandoori Nights (1985–1987) and Little Napoleons(1994). He also appeared as Ravi Desai on Coronation Street and inMinder as Mr Mukerjee in Series 1 episode The Bengal Tiger.
Jaffrey worked with many top actors including Sean Connery,Michael Caine and Pierce Brosnan. He starred in popular cinema directed by Satyajit Ray, James Ivory and Richard Attenborough.
He was also the first Asian to receive British and Canadian Academy Awards nominations, and also the first Indian to receive the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contributions to drama.
Saeed was a member of the Wynberg-Allen Society and attended the reunions on a regular basis until age played its part. Six members of our society, Mike Harrison, Ken Cumine, Basil Quieros, Ian Loughran, Lionel Connor and Derek Hargrave were invited to appear on television with Saeed when he was the subject of a “This is your Life” programme
Saeed is survived by his wife Jennifer who he married in 1980 and his three daughters Meera, Zia and Sakina by his first wife Madha Jaffrey.
Yours sincerely,
Derek Hargrave