Karachi : Nobel prize is awarded to some rum customers these days, as the highly premature award to US President Obama shows. But there is one thoroughly deserving recipient who has so far been inexplicably overlooked. He is Abdul Sattar Edhi, Pakistan's social worker, whom I had privilege of meeting while making a film on violence in Karachi (to be shown on Channel 4 Friday night),
says Daily Telegraph chief political commentator Peter Oborne."Within moments of seeing Edhi I was aware I was in presence of moral and spiritual greatness. He is the greatest and most wonderful person I have ever met, and I feel certain future generations will revere him as a saint. Our film is not about Edhi, but rather ambulance service he founded and which saves so many lives today. Edhi Foundation is also responsible for orphanages, homes for the mentally ill and an ocean of other humanitarian work. I profiled him here in last Sunday’s Telegraph," Oborne wrote Friday in British newspaper.Fourteen years ago Mr Edhi published an autobiography, beautifully ghosted by Tehmina Durrani. While in Karachi Oborne said he read it: parts of it are so deep and true they read like scripture or great poetry. Other parts are a searing social commentary on failure of Pakistani political class. As I readbook I found myself repeatedly underlying his words. For those who have never heard of Mr Edhi, and would like to understand a little more about who he is and depth of his insight, here is a selection of his thoughts, which I have divided into categories. In places I have added a few words of explanation or context.
Politics: I had no intention of suffering from prevalent epidemic of useless rhetoric. The newspapers were full of it and it achieved nothing. The damage done by bad publicity can only be short-term. It can create perceptions, but those cannot outlive perseverance. Dependence on politicians is an unreliable and useless investment leading to inevitable disappointment. They are in this business for fame, power, and wealth, not because of sympathy for you. I understood politicians lived in another world, an illusionary one based on blatant falsehood, propagated as complete truth. I could not permitmyself to become entangled with a deep rooted evil which would either consume me, make me its servant,or else eliminate me. (Edhi’s verdict after serving as Pakistani MP) Nothing changes from top, it mustcrawl up from very bottom. Magic carpet that swept public representatives away from reality, making their chests swell, so that they walked little taller than before they arrived. (on first class flights, cars with drivers, luxurious hotels etc)
Fame, Celebrity, Wealth: When goals are contaminated by pursuit of fame, missions are stunted. I had become convinced of the damaging results of personality projection. My aversion to celebrity status grew. Aware that each phase of life manifests new forms of evil, publicity had replaced earlier fear of luxury.’ (on growing interest of the media in him personally, and his resistance to it) Money is anunrealistic asset. That it is usually derived from sweat of another disqualifies its use by those who enjoy it. In most cases, it has a bad history.
Rich: Wealthy were breeding a generation of invalids, who had forgotten how to drink a glass of water without assistance. Children were wrapped up in parental wealth and transported from one prestigious school to another. Parental extravagance along with weak values was only education they received. It was a disaster for nation’s future. I felt an inherent dislike for their low standard of thought and high standard of living.
His work: According to my understanding, theories that came from minds rather than experience were usually not implementable. Truths were simple and implementable, whereas complicated matter was a jumble of lies. I was amused and amazed at power of simple thought over high-powered intrigue. In keeping with an uncertain future, no work can be left pending.
Religion: Although I could understand personal enmity, I could not fathom what kind of man killed another only because he represented a people or a nation he disliked … The real war was to fight poverty, gain freedom and justice, not kill people’. (on seeing a Pathan kill a Sikh in newborn Pakistan) All Holy Books hold same meaning. No religion declares humanitarianism as obligatory, yet all stress it as only acceptable way of life. In fact we are different only by rituals formulated according to the terrain and temperament of people that prophets were sent to direct. Who is religion supposed to benefit, if not people in dire need? Nowhere am I told to bypass a non-Muslim in distress,nowhere am I instructed to focus compassion solely on the followers of Islam. A profound indication of shallow minds making mediocre use of important examples. (on humanitarianism that is ‘essence of all religions’ being reduced to mere ritual.) Humanitarianism & philosophy: I detected strong similarities in rebellions of all reformers, they wereaddressing the same issues … self reliance is necessary, national and public spirit essential, inequality, poverty unjust, and oppression unacceptable. I find little difference and many similarities between all religions, socialist thought, and capitalist welfare systems. Principles of all emphasize humanitarianism. I decided to change pattern of social welfare, remove contradictions that diluted its concept as essential and practical obligation towards mankind. As responsibility of one who has become aware of its needs. Humanitarian work loses its significance when you discriminate between needy. Economic loopholes established ideology of organized corruption in society, spreading poverty, disorder.
