There're Humane Souls in Pakistan as Well
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
6 November
2023
Mahdood Hai Mazhab-o-Mumalik Mein Ye Jahaan
Chand Hi Log Baat Insaniyat Ki Karte Hain
Yahaan
- Jaun Elia
(The world
is limited to religion and countries/ Only a few talk of humanity)
'Some
people are to remember/ And some to perish/ But a few people are so
memorable/That one cannot but cherish.'
I remember
these lines the moment I got a call from Islamabad, Pakistan. Rahil uncle
informed me with a heavy heart that Mahira aunt was no more. A spate of
memories overwhelmed me. Mahira aunt was my professor and mentor Dr Zaifa
Ashraf's childhood friend who loved me like her own son. I remember with tears
in my eyes, how she flew down to see me in India when I was seriously ill.
Whenever I'd visit Pakistan, I'd meet and stay with her.
At this
juncture, when the subcontinent is going through its worst phase of communal
conflicts and Hindu-Muslim discrimination is at its nadir, people like Mahira
aunt are remembered and missed all the more. When an average Indian thinks that
every Pakistani or every Muslim is an enemy, one should meet people like her,
who was an epitome of love and bonhomie.
Never did
aunt say anything against the Hindus and India and would love to visit India
and see its famous places. I took her to Kalighat in Calcutta, Golden Temple in
Amritsar and Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti's dargah in Ajmer. She went everywhere
with utmost respect.
She knew
that I had no religion and I was a complete apatheist. Yet, she never talked to
me about religion, god and Allah. She never glorified her Islam. She'd say, 'Insaniyat
Mazhab-e-Azeemtareen Hai' (Humanity is the greatest faith).
Inspired by
vegetarianism and seeing me refrain from non-veg, she too turned a vegetarian
and remained so till the end. She harboured no ill-will against the Indians and
was broad-minded in the broadest sense of the word.
Mahira aunt
had an exquisite sense of music and would often discuss Rafi and Mehdi Hasan's
songs and ghazals with me.
In these
times of extreme bitterness and rabid fanaticism evinced by the followers of
all man-made faiths, aunt's latitudinarian approach and attitude to all faiths
was like a whiff of fresh air.
She proved
with her exalted ideals that countries and faiths were subservient to what we
call humanity and universality. I wish more and more people were like my Mahira
aunt. I'll miss you, aunt. You'll forever remain ensconced in my heart and
mind. Au revoir, aunt.
-----
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/humane-souls-pakistan/d/131052
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