Honouring a hero

Letter June 20, 2021
Abdul Sattar Edhi dedicated his entire life for the sake of humanity

TURBAT:

Abdul Sattar Edhi dedicated his entire life for the sake of humanity. He is remembered today for his selfless devotion to the cause of the most vulnerable groups in Pakistan. It has been almost five years since the world’s greatest philanthropist left us. But, no one can ever forget the love and compassion he had for human beings, irrespective of their religion or caste.

Even as a small boy, Abdul Sattar Edhi would help in a dispensary in his neighbourhood to deliver medicines all over the village and to spot handicapped and destitute persons in need of help. In 1951, he was able to purchase from his savings a small shop in Mithadar and had installed his own dispensary that catered to everyone. Outside that, he put a banner saying, “Those who give charity are blessed, those who do not are also blessed.” It was this dispensary and a radical idea that later on blossomed into the biggest humanitarian foundation in the world, the Edhi Foundation. I am of the belief that it is because of foundations like these that Pakistan remains intact.

Many people have commemorated him through their art works or have made videos about his service to humanity to exemplify him. In Quetta, a statue of Edhi has been erected to honour our national hero for his life-long steadfast conviction to help those that society shuns away. The statue is made by sculptor Ishaq Lehri and has been placed at the Edhi Chowk. I highly appreciate Ishaq Lehri for his praiseworthy initiative of creating a masterful memorabilia that will help the coming generations remember this great national hero. He must never be forgotten and must live on in our hearts and in our actions.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2021.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.