Abdul Sattar Edhi, a Pakistani legend, a philanthropist and humanitarian who will never be forgotten by anyone. An individual who formed the largest ambulance service, orphanages, shelters, rehab centres, etc. all over Pakistan.

He was known as the ‘Angel of Mercy’ and ‘The Richest Poor Man’; how ironic are these 2 words, but they perfectly suited this man.Edhi sahab was born in a small village of Bantva near Gujrat, British India in 1928. He had always been the selfless and helpful one to those around them. These qualities were infused in him by his mother in his early life. He himself explained that his mother was the main reason he was the way he is.His father worked away from home and sent sacks of fruits home which his mother would then pack and advice Edhi sahab to deliver to the needy. His mother would also give him just 2 paisas every day, and asked him to utilise just one paisa for himself and give the other to someone needy and would regularly enquire about whom he had given the money to.How amazing was this whole process of exchange. They themselves were not well-off but never forgot to care for those around them.

But at the tender age of 11, his mother became paralysed and later got mentally ill. At such a young age he started looking after her mother and satisfy her needs. This was a very long and hard battle for both Edhi and his mother. His studies were also affected and could not complete his high school. At the age of 19, finally, his mother lost the battle for her life and passed away.

This whole experience had been a source of wisdom for Edhi. He became more emphatic to the thousands and millions who had no one to look for them.

Later on, during the partition of India-Pakistan, he migrated to Pakistan in 1947 and then shifted to Karachi. He worked in the wholesale market, initially as a peddlar and eventually became a commission agent, selling cloth. A few years later, he formed a free dispensary with help from his community, this was just the beginning of his journey towards charity work.

During an Asian flu epidemic break out in 1957, Edhi realised that he had to do something to help them out when he saw people laying on the pavement. He begged for donations on streets and people did not disappoint. He bought an 8-by-8 room to start his work. He also appealed to medical students to volunteer.

He married Bilquis Edhi in 1965, who was a nurse working at the Edhi dispensary. They have 4 children, 2 girls and 2 boys. His wife and son, Faisal Edhi and his daughters managed the operations of the organisation during his illness.

Over the next years he began his journey in single-handedly changing the face of welfare in Pakistan with continuous support from his wife. His personal experiences and his vision of developing a system of services for the less-privileged. He established his own welfare trust ‘Edhi Trust’. He made an appeal for funds to the public and the response was great, Rs. 200,000 were raised.His work began to flourish with remarkable speed, all due to the man behind it. Soon Edhi sahab formed the ‘Edhi Foundation’ which had orphanages, maternity homes, shelters for  abandoned women and children, rehabilitation centres for drug addicts and mentally ill, clinics for the handicapped, blood banks and an ambulance service.

This ambulance service is currently the largest in the world and recorded in the Guinness World Record.Bilquis Edhi looked after the maternity and adoption services of the foundation. Most Edhi emergency centres have a jhoola (cradle) located outside the building for mothers to leave infants, regardless of their situation and they take these children in.

Edhi was also very personally involved in all his work, he visited the children and they called him ‘nana’ (grandfather) and also drove an ambulance to help any injured on his way.The single room that he bought in 1957 is now the Edhi Foundation. He is also referred to as Pakistan’s version of Mother Teresa. There are no words that can describe this man and his contributions for Pakistan. He alongside his wife, who shared his humanitarian beliefs have made people believe that humanity is not dead and you don’t need to be rich to help your brothers and sisters.

To add to this great man’s story, he was known for his ascetic lifestyle, owning only 2 pairs of clothes, an apartment (next to his organisation’s office) where he spent his whole life in and never taking a salary from his organization. He disliked any kinds of publicity and did not like to stay in the spotlight, despite the fact that he received more than 25 awards both international and national. A commemorative coin was also released by State Bank of Pakistan and was proposed as a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.As his popularity grew, he requested people to not invite him to functions as this would waste his time which could have been devoted for his people, as stated in an interview in 1991.

Accepting a humanitarian award in 2000, Abdul Sattar Edhi said, “My greatest reward is the smile that flashes on the faces of suffering human beings, and the prize money of all these awards has always been utilized in spreading this smile. I myself am the owner of nothing, except a small 10-foot by 10-foot room that my mother left me in the alley where I first began my work, and the two sets of clothing that I wear.Edhi may be the most widely admired man in Pakistan, yet he remains little known abroad: Starting in 1951 with a free pharmacy in a poor neighborhood of Karachi, Abdul Sattar Edhi has inspired-by deeds more than words-the growth of a vast nationwide Charitable organization of ambulances, clinics, orphanages, asylums, shelters, mortuaries, hospitals, schools and kitchens staffed today by more than 7000 volunteers and funded entirely by private donations. August 2004.On 25 June, Edhi’s kidneys failed and it was announced that he would be put on dialysis for the rest of his life unless he found a kidney donor. He passed away on 8 July 2016 due to kidney failure after having placed on a ventilator. But before dying this man had more work to do, he had asked to donate his organs after his death but due to his illness only his eyes were suitable. How lucky would be that person to gain such a legend’s eyes, I can only hope that he can also see the world the way Edhi Sahab did.

He was the 3rd Pakistani to receive a historical state gun carriage funeral and was the only Pakistani without a state authority or a state role to receive such a funeral.

Since his death, it is reported that donations to the Edhi Foundation has decreased. It is our duty, not only as Pakistani’s but as humans to keep this legend’s work alive and help his wife and children with whatever each one is capable of. Abdul Sattar Edhi was one-of-a-kind and we, as Pakistanis, should be blessed to have such a gem.

Regardless of the fact that he has passed away, he will always remain alive in our hearts and for that we need to keep serving his cause. Words are literally not enough to describe how amazing of a person he was. There are so many much more incredible things this man has achieved which have not been mentioned.

This piece is not to bring him in the limelight because that is something he would surely not want, but to remind everyone about him and to help his cause, as nothing would have made him happier. It is soon going to be 1 year since he passed away, let’s make it count and make him proud. 

 Few Qoutes from EDHI: 

“People have become educated, but have not yet become human.”
― Abdul Sattar Edhi

“No religion is higher than humanity.”
― Abdul Sattar Edhi

“Empty words and long praises do not impress God. Show Him your faith by your deeds”
― Abdul Sattar Edhi

“My religion is humanitarianism, which is the basis of every religion in the world”
― Abdul Sattar Edhi

“The dead has only one place to go… up. Wherever you bury them, they will go the same way, up”
― Abdul Sattar Edhi

“So, many years later there were many who still complained and questioned, ‘Why must you pick up Christians and Hindus in your ambulance?’ And I was saying, ‘Because the ambulance is more Muslim than you’.”
― Abdul Sattar Edhi

“When you stop living for luxuries, you understand the real meaning of life.”
― Abdul Sattar Edhi

“The value of every life is based on the tragedy it leaves behind with some person.”
― Abdul Sattar Edhi

“Any philosopher, any international economist may talk to me about the methods I have introduced and the thoughts behind them. Illiteracy is a disability only for those who lived their lives walking and talking while their minds slept.”
― Abdul Sattar Edhi