Most of my friends, acquaintances and relatives consider him not a hero, but a failure, who has destroyed his brilliant career, ruined his family life and in fact had a broken and forlorn life, what has he gained? They ask, by stubbornly adhering to the abstract nations of truth and justice, I being the firm follower of Abdul Ghaffar Khan had struggled with this question, most of my life, for to me he is the most inspired and unforgettable personality of my life, I could perceive. My answer to them and in fact would be to anyone
"that the difference lies, for he was a man who have emphasized absolute standards and have talked and acted truth, while others find the only certain realities in the process of life and the present moments.
" So has, my nature and instinct always impelled me in Abdul Ghaffar Khan's direction, without any doubt and misgivings and I have every reason to be happy with this life.It was in 1964, that I for the first time saw this apostle of non-violence, while I was a student of class 10th at Karachi and Badshah Khan was leaving to England and if anyone had told me that this simple-dressed man would have such a lasting huge impact on may life and work, I would have shaken my head in disbelief. Never has been a moment in my life to loose faith in his greatness, in his rights to be valued and yes to be loved, and it was with the passage of time, that I realized that it was Badshah Khan's rich imagination that in his youth drew him to the promise of a reformer, that enabled him later, in conditions of extremity to transform physical sufferings into spiritual triumph.So strong and large he was, till his death, as I had seen him for the first time in 1964.
For the first time no other in the history of the Pakhtoons, held much power over as many people, for so long, as Badshah Khan, though age might have diminished his roars, n fading years, I still celebrated this gift of life, how ordinary the chime was, but the music it made was divine.His closest companions in all the ups and downs, to them he stood immortal by creating love and compassion among them, he unshattered by any avalanche erupting against "from hardships he learned about faith, with faith he inspired success.
" The more suppressed the more he became invulnerable and would tell them " I and you are slaves and if you are not willing to raise and speak about love of God and love of mother land, there is nothing to speak about anymore.
"From 1964 years passed, so unseen and missed he was, my world had become gray and cold, when in the spring of 1973, I saw the Pakhtoon legendary of my dream coming down the historic Khyber Pass, I amongst the huge crowed saw dream of my romance coming true.Despite old age, showed few signs of showing down, he spoke softly " I am a lucky man, because my life has been fully lived, "and" I will like to extend an invitation, to each one of you, once you drink of the peace river, you always, eventually, come back for ore.
" He locked, as if, he had a million gurgles, inside him, but he made no sound, but still he remained a symbol of Joy Hope for me.At times a passing impulse creates an temporary impasse and one feels like the life of the followers has been lived in a constant pain and agony, but as days passed, I began to realize that the agonies with him were themselves blessings, his sweet memories are a balm to the heart.And then I pause to watch and feel the fragrance in the person of this apostle of non-violence.He to me was a social, political and spiritual personality, who spoke the minds and hearts of the followers, no act of charity was more magnanimous or stirred more interest than this mysterious benefactor, who reached out to serve the masses at large, few have given more of themselves than this apostle of non-violence who worked day and night at it, and missed and put many an important moment, of his life at stake, for me to enjoy.
He made an impression, lasting on every one he met, a proud son of the soil, had a reputation few could achieve, he really was genius, for him conditions were always grim, but in him a ray of hope always survived and he did try to make a difference in the world of poor and desperate, knowing well that there strides of his often would end up either in prison or cemetery.
He had his own set rules of conduct, even desperate at point of time, still kept on playing by the rules, no profanity, no weapon, no interrupting no violence throughout the duration of life, but he did not mind other who put in an idea, least concerned as to where it would lead, but he at the same time demonstrated his unprotected, he and his friends entered the fields and crossed the barriers while non could dare so he smiled ever when exhausted " If we do not tackle this quickly our institutional image would suffer" he would say, and " had need to change this crazy situation of ours, so that the oncoming generation, does not condemn and curse us, for the lackness, " and" we have a right to do it, we must do it, and we will rebuild and we will be stronger and we will be together"."What makes, a community a place to live in, is not the buildings, it's the people and the sprit and faith that are in those are in those people.
." And "that is what I am struggling for."It looked like the worlds longest funeral procession, cars and truck, were bumper to bumper and people just looked lost, so did, perhaps a scene unforgettable Ghani, Ali, Wali, Nasim by his side, how proud Badshah Khan was to see this meritorious commendation awarded to this giant by his followers. It felt Badshah Khan was with me and was leading the procession as ever, I thought how proud he must be, I realized what he had accomplished all those long tiresome years, no money no lobby and no body behind except a bunch of carrying passionate people with no real power.
And when I was coming back across the Khyber Pass in my blast broken car I begun to think that may be we were going to survive after all, for people do live and Badshah Khan long life, his ideas had put many a things in my life, into perspective could not I celebrate and cherish and after all work on his values, for he did make me value democracy and the free expression, we still adhere to for only a tiny fraction of the earth's people have this freedom and we owe it to you Badshah Khan.Ever more remarkable were those looks of this scrupulous admiral wrapped within, love, practiced all life, the love of a man having received so little love all his life.
"I like you just they way you were, for in you, I saw the marvelous variety and potentially of the best of human heart".
Goodbye! Baba! For you were never the one for good byes!I and you were always there for each other, were not we? You are not more and my hands have lost their strength too, but the strength of our friendship and the memories of your courage will stay with me for ever.
