What is it to be human? What is it that makes us
human? Sometimes the best way to answer that is with example.
My friend and co-worker, Saad, sent me a link to an article
about Abdul Sattar Edhi. Who was this gentleman? He was a
humanitarian of the greatest order who spent his life giving back to others in
need.
Some
History:
Abdul
Sattar Edhi (Urdu: عبدالستار ایدھی; c. Born early 1928, was a
Pakistani philanthropist, ascetic, and humanitarian who founded the Edhi
Foundation, which runs hospitals, homeless shelters, rehab centers, and
orphanages across Pakistan. Born in Gujarat, British India, Edhi moved to
Karachi where he established a free dispensary for Karachi's low-income
residents. Edhi's charitable activities expanded in 1957 when an Asian flu
epidemic swept through Karachi. Donations allowed him to buy his first
ambulance the same year. He later expanded his charity network with the help of
his wife Bilquis Edhi. Over his lifetime, the Edhi Foundation expanded
backed entirely with private donations including establishing a network of
1,800 minivan ambulances. By the time of his death Edhi was registered as a
parent or guardian of nearly 20,000 children. He is known as Angel of Mercy and
is considered to be Pakistan's "most respected" and legendary figure.
In 2013, The Huffington Post claimed that he might be "the world's
greatest living humanitarian", while on the 28th of February 2017, Google
celebrated Edhi with a Google Doodle hailing his "super-efficient"
ambulance service. Edhi maintained a hands-off management style and was
often critical of the clergy and politicians. Edhi was a strong proponent of
religious tolerance in Pakistan and extended support to the victims of
Hurricane Katrina and the 1985 famine in Ethiopia. Edhi was nominated several
times for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The following link is to the article my friend shared with
me. http://bit.ly/Abdul-Sattar-Edhi
It tells why Google honors the man today. Go to www.google.com and see the image being used.
Last, but certainly not least, a quote from Mr. Edhi that I
believe speaks volumes to the man’s humanness. I hope to be a fraction of
the humanitarian he was throughout his life.
Namaste,
PS: you could learn something from this true
gentleman, Mr. President.
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