THE great Abdul Sattar Edhi is dead but not without leaving an indelible mark on the country. He spent his life in the service of humanity and took it to the heights of worship. Utilising the opportunities of the modern world and using his own abilities, Edhi expanded his service from Karachi to the whole of Sindh, to Pakistan, to the subcontinent and to the different continents of the world.

In his own words “Humanity has no religion”. He was a humanist, an internationalist and a socialist. He was a flag-bearer of love, peace, harmony and brotherhood.

These are the very ingredients of the 8,000-year-old Indus civilisation. And this has been the message of this land of Sufis throughout. So, Edhi can be regarded as the practical face of this message. For this we will remain grateful to him. The land of Sindh, for its qualities of fertility, generosity and benevolence has always attracted people from other parts of the world.

They can be divided into two categories: those who came with the intentions of occupation, domination and exploitation and those coming with ideals of love, brotherhood, peace and service to humanity. The latter have been welcomed by the people of Mehran.

This category include Shah Abdul Lateef Bhitai, G.M. Sayed, Hosh Mohammad Shidee, Miskeen Jahan Khan Khoso, Dr Nabi Bux Baloach and Dr G.M. Mehkri, Edhi being the talest addition.

Edhi dedicated his life to the service of the wretched of the earth and aligned himself with the destitute, the deprived, the impoverished and the poorest of the poor.He lived with them, linked them and loved them and wanted to die in their midst.

However, the elite had no particular fondness for his work during his lifetime. Even his last will that roads should not be closed for his funeral was not honoured.

Abdul Khalique Junejo

Karachi

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2016