We Pakistanis are fortunate enough to have a person of Abdul Sattar Edhi’s stature among us; who has been constantly involved in the humanitarian efforts over the last so many decades. I had written The Real Humanitarian in 2006 when Muhammad Youns of Grameen Bank had won the Noble Peace Prize. At that moment I thought how come a Nobel Peace Prize committee ignored the struggle and activities of someone like Edhi. Recently, Edhi won the United Nations prize for his efforts. Edhi in my view, deserves Nobel Peace Prize too so let’s make our voices heard.

The Real Humanitarian

In fifty-nine years Pakistan has produced just one Nobel laureate Dr. Abdul Salam. The younger generation of Pakistan knows very little about this prominent scientist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979 for his work in electroweak theory. Unfortunately due to his religious beliefs he didn’t get due recognition from the government in Pakistan.

People often think is there any other Pakistani who could win a Nobel Prize for his genuine efforts in the scientific field, literature or peace? There is certainly one humble personality the more one analyzes his efforts and achievements spanning over five decades the more he seems to be a strong contender for Nobel Peace Prize. Always clad in a simple gray shalwar kameez, black cap and chappal he is none other than the Pakistan’s most loved and respected philanthropist, Abdul Sattar Edhi.

Born in Bantva, a small village of an Indian state of Gujarat to Memon parents, Edhi was taught to be kind and compassionate towards the needy people since his childhood. In 1947 the Edhi family migrated to Karachi. At the age of fifteen Edhi got financially independent as he started off his own small business. Soon after that he got associated with Bantva Memon Dispensary in Karachi. That was the time when he officially started social work. Following some administrative disputes with the other members of Bantva Memon Dispensary, Edhi parted his ways with this organization.

In 1951, he set up his own dispensary at Mithadar that would provide medical assistance and medicines to the poor. Edhi gained popularity among the masses during the 1957 flu epidemic in Karachi. It was during that time that he bought his first ambulance called “Poor Man’s Van”. Later on in 1974 he established the Edhi Foundation. Today Edhi Foundation owns a fleet of almost 600 ambulances, 1 helicopter and 2 aircrafts hence making it the largest volunteer network of ambulances in the whole world.

Edhi Foundation has 3,500 workers and thousands of volunteers who work in over 300 centers all across Pakistan with daily expenditure of 1.2 million rupees. The Foundation runs 8 hospitals in Karachi, including clinics, maternity homes and blood banks. Edhi dispensaries are established all across Pakistan where people get free treatment. There are six nursing schools that provide basic training to the nurses and so far have produced 40,000 qualified nurses. The Foundation’s Apna Ghar, is a home to 50,000 destitute, runaways, orphans and mentally challenged people. Besides that the Foundation has also established shelters for women and Jhoolas for the unwanted infants. His Foundation works day in and day out to make the difference by providing health facilities, food, shelter and basic and vocational education; these are all the duties of a state but instead of looking up to someone he quietly does his work. Edhi Foundation swiftly responds at the time of natural calamity and other crisis. After the earthquake on 8th October 2005 the Edhi Foundation was among the first to reach the affected areas.

Edhi Foundation hasn’t limited its welfare activities to Pakistan only. The Edhi International Foundation has branches in 34 countries including UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, Dubai and Bangladesh. The main task of UK and USA branch is to provide the facilities of temporary residence to the people hailing from the third world countries who come for a treatment to UK or USA. These branches provide assistance to refugees; maintain community centers and work for emergency relief such as after the 9-11 Edhi offered aid and assistance to the New York government and after Hurricane Katrina donated 100,000 dollars to relief efforts. The Foundation also sent relief items and established centers in the countries affected by Asian tsunami of 26th December 2004. Lately Edhi personally visited Lebanon during the Israel-Lebanon war and provided medical assistance and food to the people. Moreover he donated three ambulances to Lebanese government. After witnessing the gruesome scenes of death and destruction in Beirut he requested for immediate cease-fire.

In 1979 Mother Teresa was given the prestigious Nobel Prize for Peace. She, a Catholic Christian of Albanian origin dedicated all her life to the poor people of Calcutta and later on expanded her activities to the other cities of India. By awarding Nobel Peace Prize to Muhammad Yunus this year (2006), the Nobel Committee has certainly broadened its criteria for selection. Edhi has been given many national and international awards and honors in recognition of his services to the humanity such as the “Ramon Magsaysay Award” given to him in 1986 and “Lenin Peace Prize”, awarded in 1988 besides Pakistan’s highest civilian award, Nishan-i-Imtiaz in 1985. In 2000 the Italian government awarded him the ‘International Balzan Prize for Humanity Peace and Brotherhood’. And most recently he won the UN prize for his services in promoting tolerance and non-violence.

The time has come that the Nobel Committee should also consider Abdul Sattar Edhi and his Edhi Foundation for the Nobel Peace Prize. Edhi is one such personality who is selflessly serving the humanity in distress from many decades irrespective of their religion, caste or social status. His achievements speak volumes about his credibility. He is a simple man with no political affiliations and with a vision to bring peace into the lives of suffering humanity.

Bakhtawar pays tribute to her mother by singing a rap song.

Lyrics:

Rest in peace

Murdered my grandfather

Benazir Bhutto Murdered

Both my uncles 1953 to 2007

December 27th and now my mother

Shot in the back of ear

Murdered legendary mother

She’s got crazy courage

Dear mom if you can hear me

Crazy intelligence I’ve got a few things to say to you

I never got a chance to say

But if I could have Yo…

I would take the pain away (Chorus)

A picture I’m trying to speak

But they ain’t responding back

I’m not responsible for that

I can’t even begin to think

You went walking through that door

I’m waiting, crying, thinking some more

You did so much through your time

And knew the risk was to your life

But nothing stopping you could a go

Hey that’s my mom

She crazy braved us

Despite that threat

She went there and stayed

October 17th, Still strong

2 bomb blasts stopping the throng

3 million around to meet you

And all the cases will seep through

Innocent They all believed in you

Your enemies feared your presence

You had beauty and intelligence

Everything you did relevant

Shot in the back of your ear

Still young at 54

Murdered with three kids left behind

You were all in their hearts

Millions, they all fell apart

Cause there’s no point living in this life

I would take away the pain (Chorus)

Perhaps everything’s a bit clearer

But I look in the mirror

I saw the question of reality

You are probably genuine bravery

How could you be taken from me?

My eyes, they keep getting sore

When we prayed at your grave

My knees, they just hit the floor

I didn’t know that’s possible

To us you were unstoppable

Trust there is no bright day

If  I could take the pain away

Walking in your room and office

You’ll always be back you promised

Still got the sense of your presence

Your eyes, your smile, the essence

Perfection, your beauty and elegance

The epitome of benevolence

You were counting down the days

To pray at your dad’s grave

Character spoke with this art

This was your chosen path

Another hole in dad’s heart

Welcomed you with open arms

You need no one else with your charm

The cowardly bullet stole your life from the fullest

And that’s what you could do

No one dare touch your shoes

An angel in blue

Hands raised to the sky

God does what he choose

I would take the pain away (Chorus)

How you wished me happy 18th

A whole month in advance

Cause somehow you knew it would be your last chance

The nightmares, they keep coming

My mom just keeps running

Her last phone call

The day before the gunning

Why did you have to go?

Why did you have to leave?

Aseefa is only 14 and I ain’t even ready

I barely 18

A bullet in the back of your head

You were never afraid

You didn’t even duck down

Grinning even when you lay

Still looked you were sleeping

Putting flowers on your grave

The whole world was weeping

That smile on your face

You body laying on the ice

The way you waved goodbye

It’s all I can think of

How you wrote a will

You were prepared till the end

My mother was murdered

I don’t even comprehend

Was it worth dying for?

I’m walking through screened doors

Condolences and dialogues

No comfort or ease

I’m begging you please

God bless the deceased

Let my mother rest in peace

I would take away the pain (Chorus)