LAHORE: Speakers at a condolence reference on Friday were unanimous about following the path of the late Dr Lal Khan (Yasrab Tanvir Gondal), focusing on the struggle for the uplift of the oppressed and unprivileged classes of the country.

They expressed their resolve for learning from the experiences and devising a strategy to adopt the way leading to sustainable relations and unity among all left-wing parties and groups.

“I always found Dr Yasrab Tanvir Gondal doing something for his cause. He had no side business. He was very bold and courageous while talking or doing something in practical for his cause,” eminent rights activist I.A. Rehman said while speaking to the audience at the reference organised by the Lahore Left Front at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) auditorium on Friday.

“I don’t think we should work for uniting all the leftist parties or groups as we better need to move on a path, focusing work in a practical way, not just statements. The late Lal Khan was certainly a practical person,” he added.

Lal Khan was known for his Marxist views and breathed his last here on February 21 (Friday). He was diagnosed with lungs cancer one-and-a-half years back and was admitted to a private hospital in the city for a couple of weeks. However, his condition did not improve and breathed his last. He left behind a teenage son, a daughter and a widow.

Mr Rehman said whenever the people discussed revolution they confused many things related to this subject.

“We discuss and confuse many things with each other—like revolutionary steps, movement, writings, moments etc. This diverts our attention from the main focus,” he said, acknowledging Lal Khan’s efforts in the 1980s. He termed the current situation that of fear, advising the participants to join hands to break fear prevalent across the country.

“We also need to learn from our experiences and add and delete things for the betterment of our society,” Mr Rehman added.

Sadaf Tanvir Gondal, the widow of the late Lal Khan, recalled childhood memories of her husband she had heard from her father-in-law.

“My father-in-law had told me that he (Lal Khan) was very brave since his childhood. Once he placed a lantern (election symbol) of Fatima Jinnah during the elections of the 1960s. At this, Ayub Khan lodged a complaint to my father-in-law,” she recalled. She said Lal Khan was not her comrade alone as he was comrade to all.

“During his cancer treatment at the hospital, he always said he was fine. He fought with such the decease bravely.”

While paying homage to Lal Khan, Ilyas Khan said he (Lal) never used the word ‘neutral’ in his ideology.

“He was very open to say that there is no middle way in Marxism. He was very straightforward,” he said.

Ammar Ali Khan appreciated Lal Khan for putting life to a dead society.

“He was a tiger-type human. He was so brave, having spirit of doing something all the time. He took part and supported us in recent Student Solidarity March. He always opted take a stand against the capitalists and the state oppression,” he said.

Imran Kamyana quoted Mr Khan’s writings that created a spirit among the people to be part of struggle for the oppressed.

PPP leader Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed recalled the time he passed with Lal Khan, stating that he was not a machine-type person.

“I first met him in 1986. Once he invited me to his home to watch the Indian film Veer-Zeera. He was fond of participating in poetry functions, sports events — especially cricket,” he added.

Manzoor Ahmed expressed sorrow over the divisions in the left-wing parties, requesting the participants to jointly launch a move to gather all the parties at one platform.

Poet Baba Najmi mentioned his first meeting with Dr Lal Khan in London in 2005. “What a personality he was. I think he is still alive and lives with us,” he said.

Tahira Jalib, daughter of Habib Jalib, Sasha, Dr Khalid Javed Jan, Asghar Sohail Goindi, Farooq Tariq, Sajida Mir, Imtiaz Alam, Jawwad Ahmed and others also spoke.

Published in Dawn, February 29th, 2020