As I write this, I am watching the funeral proceedings on TV and see army and naval officers and politicians; little punctuations in a sea of the common man. Perhaps that is the special nature of Mr Edhi, and how his touch extended beyond a certain segment of society.
His ambulance and social welfare network is a condemnation of the inability of the state to provide services effectively to its most vulnerable.
Edhi was an ascetic, shunning material pleasures. News channels and social media eulogies are quick to point out his way of life, his two-room apartment, simple meals, and lately, his rejection of treatment abroad and subsequent burial in the same clothes he wore every day.
The narrative surrounding him has always been laced with love, the kind of love reserved for saints. That is fair, since the characteristics present in the man have always been a perfect fit for sainthood.
My fear is that the lesson we must take from Edhi will not be taken; in moving Edhi towards sainthood we may forget that he was at the end of the day a man.
Keeping him away from the status of sainthood has the purpose of teaching us his true message: that his mission was not guided by a love and purpose greater than what is present in every man, woman and child.
Asceticism is a tough proposition to undertake; this is not a moralising article. However, the idea of a person who, from nothing, contributed so much, should, and must, be an example to follow.
Turning him into a saint makes him beyond reproach when he was not; he was plagued by many of the same issues we all are, and were. Eulogies on news channels are quick to point out his lack of formal education; Edhi was more educated than all of us combined, more knowledgeable, his life more rooted in empathy, the greatest human emotion. Edhi was no saint, and that is not necessarily a bad thing.
S. M. Qasim Ahsan
Karachi
(2)
IT is better to light a candle than curse darkness. Abdul Sattar Edhi exactly did so, proving vociferously that one man can indeed make a difference.
He was an icon in philanthropy and altruism, being acknowledged worldwide for his supreme services for mankind to alleviate their sufferings and lift them out of their miserable plight. Selfless service to humanity regardless of their cast, creed, colour and religion was his motto.
Indeed, he was an epitome or a paragon of generosity, goodness, fellow feeling, humaneness and selflessness. Our country has become poorer with the death of this noble and self-effacing man.
He was a true patriot. He never accepted any donation from foreign countries or NGOs and always politely turned down their offers, saying that he would accept donations only from Pakistanis.
His people did not disappoint him, and generously donated money to the Edhi Foundation. He was a fatherly figure for orphans, the destitute, widows, oppressed and downtrodden people forsaken by their blood relations, providing shelter and all the necessities of life to lead a good life and help them become useful citizens.
His demise is a national loss. Drapped in the national flag, Edhi was befittingly honoured by the dignitaries including president, Sindh and Punjab chief ministers and chiefs of the armed forces and representatives of political parties and social workers in addition to thousands of his admirers.
His real prize or award is fathomless and undiluted love and profound respect from every Pakistani and the people living in other parts of the world. No prize, however great, can match genuine respect and true love of the people Abdul Sattar Edhi received, which he richly deserved.
May Allah grant him paradise and give his son, Faisal, strength to emulate his father to serve the poor to make his soul happy.
Khadim Hussain Subhpoto
Hyderabad
(3)
INSTEAD of announcing Nishan-i-Imtiaz for Abdul Sattar Edhi, the prime minister should denounce his millions of dollars of investment abroad and announce its investment back home.
The tax payment due on it would be the most befitting tribute to Edhi.
Prof Asadullah
Peshawar
(4)
I WOULD like to relate two personal encounters, which speak volumes for the man he was. When I returned from the UK, I was told that the Edhi centre was looking for a part-time surgeon. I rang up the centre and they told me to come anytime and see Satter Edhi.
I went to the centre and asked if I could see Abdus Sattar Edhi. They told me that he was out in the front. I went out and could not see anyone. I went back again and told them that he was not outside. The man sitting on the counter came out and pointed to a figure sleeping on a cement bench. I could never imagine the administrator of the centre to be on the bench. He woke up and we discussed the details and I worked for the centre in the afternoon for a few years.
Many years later he came to see me in my clinic with a pain in the abdomen. After examining him, I told him that he had an acute appendicitis and needed immediate operation. On the third day of the operation when I went on my round to his room, he was not there. I was worried and asked the staff to locate him and let me know.
I got a call that he was in his room. I went up and found him in bed. He apologised for leaving without asking me and told me that he got an urgent call to pick up a serious patient as no other driver was available. He quickly went out to take the patient to the hospital. We met from time to time for various patients he wanted me to help.
In him we have lost a unique human being.
Dr Badar Siddiqi
Karachi
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