Najaf’s veteran TV repairman: Hadi Abu Hassan reflects on five decades of workmanship

NAJAF — In the heart of Najaf’s Old City, amid the alleys of Souq Al-Qassabin, Hadi Abu Hassan, known as Hadi Al-Shafi’i, sits in his workshop surrounded by tools, circuit boards, and decades of stories etched into every television he has ever repaired. His journey began in 1973, and over the past 50 years, he has become one of the most respected names in Najaf’s electronics repair industry.

He started this craft in 1973 under the guidance of a friend of him who was already skilled in repairing televisions and radios. “When he moved on, I decided to open my own workshop. It was a small space in Souq Al-Qassabin, near Al-Huwaishi restaurant, where I worked for 25 years before relocating to Al-Amir neighborhood in central Najaf,” Hadi told 964media.

From cathode ray tube televisions and early radios to sleek LED screens common today, Hadi has witnessed the evolution of television technology firsthand.

“In the early days, we worked with televisions powered by tubes and bulbs. The quality of terrestrial broadcasts was weak.” Troubleshooting often meant waiting hours for a stable signal to test his repairs properly.

In the 1970s, when televisions were rare and often distributed to cafés for public viewing, café owners relied heavily on Hadi. “Back then, televisions were extremely expensive. Whenever one broke down, the café owners would come straight to me. I’d inspect it, repair it, and sign my name on it before handing it back.”

By the 1980s, video cassette recorders became popular in Iraq. Hadi adapted quickly, learning to service these new devices and staying ahead of the technological curve. When VCRs arrived in 1987, they changed the way families consumed entertainment. Repairing them required precision, and repairmen like Hadi managed to keep up with the demand.

The Gulf War brought its own set of challenges. With shortages in supplies, unreliable electricity supply, and a city gripped by conflict, continuing his work seemed almost impossible. Yet, Hadi persisted.

In addition to repairing devices, Hadi dedicated much of his time to training new generations of technicians. “For years, I trained students on electronic circuits and repair techniques. Each training course lasted about three months, and by the end, they received a certificate allowing them to start their own repair businesses.”

Today, Hadi Abu Hassan remains active in his workshop, a living bridge between Najaf’s past and present. Many of his contemporaries have passed away, but his dedication to his craft remains unwavering.

“I’m the oldest television repairman still working in Najaf. Many of my peers have passed away, but I’m still here,” he said.

For Hadi, every device he repairs carries a story—a family huddled around the news during war, children enjoying cartoons, or a café bustling with cheers over a soccer match. His legacy isn’t just in the televisions he has fixed but in the trust he has built over five decades of service to his community.