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Thursday March 28, 2024

Edhi moves on, ‘Edhi-ism’ will live on

By News Desk
July 09, 2016

Karachi: With the demise of Pakistan’s most beloved, cherished, and respected philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi on Friday night, an unforgettable and inspirational story of a life spent for serving humanity – irrespective of caste, creed, religion or any other distinction – came to a close.

Condolences started pouring in, not just from across the country but from other parts of the world as well, as the man who had dedicated his entire life to one purpose alone – helping those in need – breathed his last at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT).

And death would not deter Edhi sahib from his mission. His cornea, the only organ of his body that could be donated, will benefit yet another life – an addition to the countless others that have so much to thank for to the humble man who wished to be buried in the same clothes he used to wear.

“Pakistan has become much poorer after Edhi sahib’s departure. The richest poor man in the country has died,” said Malik Omaid, a rights activist. “But I believe that even in death, Edhi sahib is alive. Edhi sahib you are still alive!”

Sumaira Ishfaq said it was truly a sad day in the history of the country. “Who will pick up the unclaimed dead bodies now?” she added.

“I can’t explain how much it hurts,” said Mohammad Aamir, a resident of North Karachi. “He [Edhi sahib] selflessly helped other human beings without any discrimination. We have lost a man who was undoubtedly among the greatest this nation has ever seen.”

Sarah Batool, a journalist, said Edhi sahib had showed us what humanity was – irrespective of religion, creed, ethnicity, caste, sect or colour. “What a great loss for Pakistan!”

Akbar Ali said he felt proud to have walked this planet at a time when the great Edhi sahib also lived. “Instead of sending condolences, I would rather celebrate your [Edhi sahib’s] life and achievements. But I feel sad that many of us would only celebrate you by naming things after you when a true celebration would be to work on the causes that you stood for,” he said.

Fahd Husain, a resident of Defence, said Edhi sahib’s demise was a devastating loss to humanity. “Edhi sahib was one of the reasons we could still call ourselves a great nation. Now, perhaps less so...”

Fahad Rizwan, a student, said though Edhi sahib was no more, we must not mourn him, instead remember his teachings and act upon them. “The real struggle, the real clash is between the oppressors and the oppressed. Always remember this and love humanity; serve humanity without any prejudice,” he added.

Arshad Sheikh, a Pakistani American who spent most part of his life in Karachi, said Edhi sahib was one of God’s finest creations who had returned to meet his Lord.

Navyd Nafys quoted Edhi sahib’s timeless words about humanity being above all religions. “This is what I, rather we all, have learned from a saint [Edhi sahib] who lived in our times. He will be missed forever,” he added.

For Ammar Anwer, a columnist, Edhi was much more than just a person. “It’s an ideology. People can die but ideologies live forever,” he added. “Edhi-ism teaches us that no religion is higher than humanity. It teaches us love and respect for all the people irrespective of their faith, ethnicity and colour.  It teaches us to help the poor, to shelter the needy and the orphan. Edhi will live forever.”

Faraz Talat, a doctor, writer and scholar, said Edhi sahib was no businessman. “He was no medical specialist. He was barely an activist. What he was, was a one-man empire of empathy, that was consistently startled by the fact that the world considered such tenderness beyond belief.”

“He was a person who had all but abandoned political opinion, steered his life on the simple principle of respect for human life supersedes everything else, and was hopelessly ignorant of his own greatness for doing so – evident by the way he dodged media cameras and skirted being political expedient at every corner, except for when he wished to promote his ‘brand’ of nothing more than unadulterated human kindness.”

Perhaps Edhi sahib’s personality is summed up in his own quote. “I do not have any formal education … what use is education when we do not become human beings? My school is the welfare of humanity,” the great philanthropist had once said.