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AKU lecture series: Humanitarian calls for a ‘bloody revolution’
Edhi says govt should complete its term but a revolution is needed.
Edhi addressing people at AKU. PHOTO: AKU
KARACHI:
When you hear calls for a revolution from the most humanitarian of philanthropists in the country, you know for sure that the revolution narrative has seeped deep into the public psyche. Abdul Sattar Edhi, who was introduced by the host as a “welfare state in and of himself”, stressed the need for a bloody revolution to set things right in the country.
Edhi, the founder of Pakistan’s largest welfare foundation, was speaking on Thursday at the Aga Khan University in a special lecture series on emergency management during disasters. When probed about his statement, however, he said the government should be allowed to complete its term and that any revolution would last longer if it came from the people.
“We are tax thieves. We are Zakat thieves,” he said, “our politicians are also thieves.”
But he was still positive and hopeful. “People ask me whether Pakistan will live and I tell them it will indeed live and it will live forever.”
Answering a question about how to deal with disillusionment, Edhi advised that a life of simplicity, honesty and hard work was the key.
Around 700 men and women from different walks of life attended the lecture and most of them were eager to speak to and take pictures with the elderly philanthropist after the event ended.
“I am not a maulana,” Edhi pointed out after the host introduced him as Maulana Abdul Sattar Edhi. “I do not have any formal education… what use is education when we do not become human beings [after being educated]? My school is the welfare of humanity.”
Edhi’s jibes at medical students who “thought they became doctors by earning degrees and wearing good clothes” drew giggles from across the auditorium.
“In reality, we have gone very far from becoming humane. We have lost our identity,” he said.
“The greatest religion is to love humanity,” he said, earning a round of loud applause.
“I am a Muslim. I believe in Allah and I offer my obligations as a Muslim,” he said. “When your intention is good, God helps you too. I rarely make appeals but even without that, people come forward to help in many ways. Allah keeps creating ways and helps you when you intend to help someone.”
Edhi described how he had always found Pakistanis helpful, adding that he only made appeals for donations to Pakistanis and that he often found all he needed here.
The philanthropist spoke about the difficulties and criticism he and his family had faced, but said he had never let that stop him because allegations are always made against people who set out to do good.
Advising young students on how to play their role, Edhi said they should develop a humanitarian approach from the beginning. When asked how one should deal with the menace of beggary and reports of mafia being behind it, Edhi said, “if your intentions are good, you should help them. Allah will look at your intentions.”
Edhi said his unparalleled network of welfare work is now being managed by his children and that he only provides them with advice when needed.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 15th, 2011.
Reader Comments (15)
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God bless Abdul Sattar Edhi. May a thousand more Edhis emerge in Pakistan!
The government of Pakistan has failed in its duty to its people and has instead embarked on its major objective of corruption and personal enrichment, to the detriment of the country and its people…Recommend
God bless Edhi, God bless Pakistan!Recommend
Very true!
May Allah always help Edhi Sahib in his noble mission and reward him for his hard work. Ameen.Recommend
Wish we had people like him not Manmohan Modi and ThakaryRecommend
If Edhi says “Revolution” then somewhere the system failed. I have never heard him being so critical.
If someone like Edhi gets a majority in the Parliamentary, only one-term of democratic rule would be enough to convince people why democracy is a good form of government.Recommend
@Ashamed to be Indian: and Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and Molana Soofi Mohammad.Recommend
Hats off to Mr.Edhi, he is the one who actually delivered n that too with patience n consistency.Recommend
@Saad Durrani: I am sorry but you probably are living away from reality… every second person I talk to is using the word ‘revolution’ these days… even my driver and the maid have been saying that its time we the suffering nation unite against these ‘royals’ and make an example for the future generations! I am also surprised to note that people are now openly giving reference to the french revolution and say things like ‘I won’t mind taking part in that’. In our case this is not a failure of a system… there is no system!!Recommend
Yeah Edhi best!Recommend
Firstly, Abdul Sattar Edhi is one of the greatest people Pakistan has produced and I say produced, because your identity takes alot from the surroundings you live in (either directly or as a consequence of it). I especially found his remark on education very interesting, because it speaks volumes about our educational setup and our society as a whole. Secondly, ideally we desperately need a revolution and one without any undesired or unknown consequences. Since that is practically impossible, let’s just stick to reforming our system (if we have any, that is). Our romantic fling with revolution is now kind of putting me off. It’s like some emotional teenager’s infatuation,untimely and impractical. Don’t get me wrong, but we need to get our priorities straight. Once that is done, there’l be plenty of time for a revolution comrades! :)Recommend
Yes, we all need a REVOLUTION. The revolution of our internal feelings. A change of mindset and here is a GREAT man from whom we can learn. This foundation, created by a man of vision, compassion and sincerity. He accepts donations from ALL the people of Pakistan for ALL the disadvantaged people of Pakistan. If the people of Pakistan can realise his vision and follow his principles, then the REVOLUTION in Pakistan will be achieved peacefully. Thus there would be no SECTARIAN killings in Karachi. There would be no abducting and killing of people in Balochistan. There would be no killings of Shias in their MASJIDS or gatherings. There will be no killing of Ahmeddies in their MASJIDS. There will be no bombings of Sufi shrines. This revolution can only be achieved if we ALL become ONE. By becoming ONE true nation we will aborb ALL that has gone wayward. Is ALL this achievable. Think and ponder!!!!!!!Recommend
I agree wholeheartedly with comment that the revolution is within. It needs to be a change of consciousness, not a bloody uprising. We are a society with deep class divisions, your maid and drivers talk of revolution because we, their employers pray 5 times a day then pay them next to nothing and subjecting them to physical emotional and sexual abuse. Charity, humanity, compassion start when we locate our spirit and ask it what is right, then follow this with action. We are so OBSESSED with religion and being supposedly good Muslims through ritual alone, but our actions have led us to where we are.Recommend
Absolutely Right Mr Edhi ! Subhan Allah … Humanity + intentions are the perfect thought, luv him for this.
RegrdsRecommend
“The greatest religion is to love humanity,” he said, earning a round of loud applause.”
” Love your neighbor is my new commandment” – Jesus
Revolution begins in thought.
Where were the applauding PAK people when Hindu women were denied of their rights to register marriages, and when a child’s rotten corpse was exhumed from the Rawalpindi muslim grave because she was born into a family of different faith?
I do not know him but he is your Gandhi. Wake up Pakistan. Look around you. Allah is in them.Recommend
Think about the situation when a person – considered an institute that teaches humanity – has been compelled to deliver some bitter facts talked about revolution. “Revolution” it sounds very good in poetries & movies but in reality asks blood of 100s of 1000s peoples’ then changes occur. This point is noticeable that elderly philanthropist Dr. Abdul Sattar Edhi had to come up for bringing change. Come on youngsters! Be ready to change the ground.Recommend