image source: google.com/edited by me
Abdul Sattar Edhi, there is no two opinion if i say that this name (Abdul Sattar Edhi) is the synonym of the word humanity. Yes, I may be wrong in the manner that the services of Late Abdul Sattar Edhi was far bigger and greater then the entire word "humanity".
Born in 1926 at Bantwa, Gujarat, British India. His mother became paralysed from a stroke and she died when Abdul Sattar Edhi was 19 years old. Loosing his mother in teenage was a deep grief for him. After the independence of Pakistan, He then migrated to Karachi in 1947 and started working at wholesale shop. Slowly and softly, he decide to establish a dispensary with the help of his community.
Being penniless, but having firm belief and mountain like intentions let him to begged for donation and contributing bit by bit he successfully managed to set up series of benches and got medical students to volunteer. With this beginning, later he established "Edhi Foundation" to sum up his all charity work under this. As the time passed, people observed his foundation and started giving numerous donation to his foundation. With these donation, Abdul Sattar Edhi decided to expand his services. Starting from his own area, he spread his charity network across the whole country including rural and urban area and successfully able to change the face of welfare in Pakistan single handedly.
image source: google.com
Abdul Sattar Edhi receiving donation from children sitting on road as seen in above picture.
He started ambulance service with having only ambulance written "EDHI" on it and today it becomes the largest ambulance service of the world with having 15,000 ambulances doing work 24/7. With an orphanage, flood relief facilities, nursing clinics, emergency staff, graveyard services, child adoption etc. Edhi foundation is now biggest welfare of Pakistan and a hope for thousands of needy people. It has a service of serving painful humanity physically, mentally and more than all it also helps financially and even they provide handsome amount to bride and grooms for their wedding.
image source: google.com
Abdul Sattar Edhi while sitting in his Edhi foundation ambulance.
Serving Pakistan and painful humanity for almost sixty years, Edhi explored his foundation by size and services all over the world and owned campuses in Canada, Australia, America etc. In this passage of 60 years of helping humanity he received several famous and important awards for being humanitarian. Following are the International awards given to Abdul Sattar Edhi for his activities for entire humanity.
- Ramson Magsaysay Award for Public Service (1986).
- Lenin Peace Prize (1988).
- Paul Harris fellow (1993).
- Peace Prize from the former USSR, for services during the Armenian earthquake (1998).
- Hamdan Award for humanitarian, U.A.E (2000).
- Peace and Harmony award Delhi (2007).
- Peace Award Seoul (2008).
- Honorary doctorate from I.B.A Karachi (2006).
- UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Prize (2009).
Nishan e Imtiaz (pride of honor) and many others national award, he also nominated in the list of Nobel Peace Prize but couldn't made it. The Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousufzai has said:
Abdul Sattar Edhi deserve Nobel Prize more than anyone else.
Video source: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHBtiABtR3w
A short documentary on the life of Abdul Sattar Edhi.
In past, an Indian girl name "Geeta" came to Pakistan from India through border accidentally lived at Edhi home for almost 10 years and after this sent successfully to her respective parents after being interrogated. With this Narendra Modi (Prime Minister of India) announced to give donation to Edhi Foundation for providing great facility to Geeta (Indian Girl) which Abdul Sattar Edhi refused to accept saying that taking funds from government is not our (Edhi foundation) policy.
image source: google.com
Abdul Sattar Edhi pictured with an Indian girl Geeta.
Being head of largest welfare,he could spent his life very smoothy and modernly but wasn't, he choose to live his life very simple and with domesticity. He was very kind and soft spoken and made everyone impressed by his deeds. According to Edhi:
In childhood his mother gave me 1 rupee to buy meal and another for a beggar. He was working on a very simple principle which was: No religion is bigger than humanity.
Abdul Sattar Edhi worked day-in and day-out and by his heart and soul for his fellow beings. He and his Edhi Foundation helped the painful humanity by putting cast, creed, religion behind.
Abdul Sattar Edhi was died on 8 July, 2016 due to his kidney failure. He owned a very simple and normal house in Karachi's oldest area (kharadar/methadar) as an asset. He wore only 2 clothes and passed his life on it. His lifestyle and kindness was a source of inspiration for many other and also a model to be followed.
image source: google.com
The great philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi
The Government of Pakistan announced state funeral in honor to pay tribute to (Late) Abdul Sattar Edhi. His funeral was offered at National Stadium Karachi where several celebrities, politicians, civilians, ministers, Chief of Army Staff Pakistan General Raheel Sharif including the head of all 3 Army departments (Army, Navy, Air force) were participated. Abdul Sattar Edhi was presented Guard of Honor, 19-gun salutation. Edhi’s body covered with Pakistan’s flag was brought on a gun carriage vehicle, also he became the third Pakistani to receive military honor at burial ceremony. Before him the two were Quaid e Azam and General Zia ul Haq who got military honor at the time of their burial ceremony.
image source: Getty images
Edhi's body at gun carriage along with the honor of armed forces.
His death was a great loss for country. According to his bequest, after his death his eyes would also goes for donation and later it transplant to two others. The International news agencies have referred Abdul Sattar Edhi as "Father Teresa" of Pakistan. While some others termed his as the greatest humanitarian.
image source: google.com
The eyes of Edhi donated after his death according to his bequest.
image source: google.com
Picture of Abdul Sattar Edhi's funeral offered at National Stadium Karachi
The services of Edhi was remarkable as he was the pioneer and symbol of love, affection, peace and dignity of Pakistan. There is no doubt that the name of greatest philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi shall be written in the letters of gold and after him the curtain seems to put on charity and welfare forever.
image source: google.com
Abdul Sattar Edhi you will not be forgotten.
