Remembering Abdul Sattar Edhi: The philanthropist who built an empire of service

Eighty eight is not a young age to die and yet, with Abdul Sattar Edhi's demise, there are many who feel the world and Pakistan in particular lost him too soon.

Such was the legendary service Edhi, in his more than six decades of unceasing humanitarian effort, had rendered that he became the forbearer of hope in a society plunged into despair.

To lose him will take a long time to get used to for lakhs whose life Edhi made better over the decades and whose soothing presence the nation had got accustomed to, and turned towards, in the face of the many tribulations.

On the shoulders of Edhi rested the responsibility of the Edhi foundation, Pakistan's largest charity, which he founded more than half a century ago.

Harivansh Rai Bachchan's penned the inspiring "Hai andheri raat par deepak jalana kab mana hai", and Edhi was a living testimony to the creed.

Described variously as "Pakistan's father Teressa"," Angel of Mercy","Pakistan's Most respected figure", Eidhi was conferred countless honours, including the Ramon Magsaysay award, the Lenin Peace prize, Nishan e Imtiaz.

Here are four aspects the Pakistani legend will be remembered for:

An empire of service

Born in Bantwa, in present day Gujarat, on January 1,1928, Edhi's tryst with service commenced rather early in life when he was tasked with caring for his mother, a paralysis patient, as a 11-year-old boy.

The Partition brought Edhi and his family to Karachi. Here he established a dispensary and since then there has been no looking back. He resolved to pledge his life to welfare and singlehandedly changed the face of welfare in Pakistan. He established the Edhi foundation and through years of hard work and dedication, the social worker turned it into the largest welfare organisation in Pakistan.

Since its inception, Edhi Foundation has rescued more than 20,000 abandoned infants, rehabilitated more than 50,000 orphans and trained more than 40,000 nurses. It also runs more than 330 welfare centres in rural and urban Pakistan, which operate as food kitchens, rehabilitation homes, shelters for abandoned women and children, and clinics for the intellectually disabled.

The NGO also runs the world's largest ambulance service (with a fleet of 1,500) and offers 24-hour emergency aid. It also operates free nursing homes, orphanages, clinics, women's shelters, and rehabilitation centres for drug addicts and intellectually disabled individuals.

Thus, Edhi created an empire of service that made living more bearable for millions to whom life has not been particularly kind. It's this generosity and service over self that made Edhi a living saint in the eyes of many.

Compassion that broke barriers of identity

Pakistan is a nation ravaged by prejudices and discrimination that different identity groups have cultivated for each other. But Edhi's service was able to transcend these divisions.

He didn't confine his noble deeds to those of his community, he considered the whole of mankind his own. His eyes didn't differentiate between the believer and the atheist, between the sinner and the pious, or between Mulsims and non Muslims - all benefited from his compassion equally.

Edhi foundation makes no distinction among those who need its help. Be it catering to the untouchables, Hindus, Christians, or myriad other voiceless oppressed minorities, the Edhi foundation has been remarkable in not being affected by the discrimination that prevails in the society around it.

His organisation also does all it can to help those beyond the borders. It has run relief operations in Africa, the US, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, et al.

On many occasions, Edhi stood up to bigots who objected to his refusal to discriminate. When asked why the ambulance service also offered aid to Hindus and Christians, he said, "Because the ambulance is more Muslim than you."

He would also say "noble work loses its significance when you discriminate between the needy."

That he rose above prejudice only adds to his greatness. Eidhi's ability to not allow compassion become a victim of discrimination is something the world can learn from.

The greatness of Eidhi's simple ways

Managing the largest welfare organisation of Pakistan made him quite a renowned and powerful figure. Yet, he never carried an aura of self-importance, which makes many a legend go astray.

His humility stayed with him till his last breath. He never confined himself to an air-conditioned office, instead looking to serve the needy in whatever way he could, without ever making a show of his stature.

In this sense, Edhi lived up to the words of Rudyard Kipling's famous poem If:

"If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,Or walk with Kings-nor lose the common touch."

Despite handling vast amounts of funds, he led an ascetic existence, without a care about possessions. He lived in a simple two-room apartment with few clothes.

This simplicity and humility imparted a saintly character to his greatness.

An icon who could unify a divided people

In a nation like Pakistan where so much has gone wrong, Edhi proved to be a bright ray of hope. He was an icon behind whom a divided nation could unify.

He inspired trust and reverence across the spectrum. The measure of that trust is evident when both Pakistan's Army and its government, which don't see eye to eye on many issues, shower lavish praise on the philanthropist. Political parties and social groups across the spectrum rushed to offer their condolences.

His life taught a shortchanged nation to hope again. Eidhi's path inspired many to take to charity and contribute to the growth of the welfare organisation.

He stood for the message that the path of peace is better than that of revenge. This was a life well lived, whose absence will be acutely felt by a nation for whom he was a rare icon of peace, harmony, compassion and love.